Mueller Industries, Inc.
Powder metallurgy process for making lead free brass alloys

Abstract:

Graphite-containing brass alloy billets having less than 0.25 wt. % lead and a method of manufacturing relating thereto are provided. The method includes forming a brass powder and mixing the brass powder with graphite and one or more binders. The brass powder contains copper and zinc and may be formed using water atomization. The brass-powder mixture is compacted to form an initial billet. The initial billet may be subjected to one or more heating treatments. A first heating treatment may be used to remove the one or more binders. An optional second heating treatment may be used to deoxidize the binder-free billet. A third heating treatment may sinter the compact to form the workable graphite-containing brass alloy billet.