Effect of melting temperature on the energy absorbance of Pb-Sb-Cu alloy at fracture resulting from impact load

Abstract

The effect of melting temperature on the energy absorbance of Pb-Sb-Cu alloy at fracture, resulting from impact load has been
studied. The casting process was carried out using three different techniques; Technique A, involving simultaneous addition of
Cu powder and pouring of the molten Pb-Sb into the mould. Techniques B, involving addition of Cu powder intermittently as
pouring of Pb-Sb into the mould was going on and Technique C involving pouring a stirred mixture of heated Pb-Sb alloy and
powdered Cu into the mould. The cast alloys were cooled in water, air and furnace. Impact test to determine the energy
absorbance was carried out prior to melting of the alloys. Copper was added to the base alloy by dispersion using the three
casting techniques. The results of the investigation showed that prior to fracture, energy absorbance of the Pb-Sb-Cu alloy
increased correspondingly with increased melting temperature of the alloy (up to 4400C ) as a result of corresponding increase in
Cu addition and distribution (up to 8.26%) within the Pb-Sb matrix. Technique A imparted higher impact strength and energy
absorbance on the alloy (compared with the other techniques used). Furnace cooling also conferred higher impact strength and
energy absorbance on the Pb-Sb-Cu alloy compared with similar alloy cooled in water and air, irrespective of the casting
technique used.