DOI: 10.31399/asm.amp.2022-08.p019 ISSN: 0882-7958

Conventional Light Microscopy Reveals Beauty of Single Phase Cartridge Brass

Grace A. Rome, Addison C. Wong, Carmen M. Sanchez, Gregory D. Vigil, W. Preston Cole, Jason Yu, Robert S. Crow, Gerald R. Bourne
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • General Materials Science

Abstract

This article describes sample preparation to create a visually impressive micrograph image of single-phase cartridge brass, C26000, an alloy composition of 70% copper and 30% zinc. C26000 was chosen due to the striking twins and large grain size that are easily generated by annealing a cold-worked sample, the large range of contrast and colors that can be created by etching, and the wide availability of the material. This entry won the Jacquet-Lucas Award for Best in Show at the 2021 International Metallographic Contest.

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