Composition: Tin bronze (4%Sn).

Processing: Sand casting. Annealing (700ºC - 1 h). Cold compression.

Etching: 30-60 s immersion in FeCl₃ alcoholic solution.

This specimen is a small cylinder made of tin bronze with a machined flat surface between two generatrices. The composition is the same as X2 and X3. Before deformation the structure consists of uniform grains of α as a consequence of the annealing treatment. Cold compression in a vise (with care in order not to damage the polished surface) produces at slightly wrinkled surface where α grains show some relief due to their tilting during deformation. Parallel lines or slip bands are also formed within grains. In some cases, these lines intersect, which indicates activation of different slip systems. If annealing were to be performed again for 20-30 mins, slip bands and tin segregation, if any, would disappear. Note: this specimen would require annealing, grinding and polishing after the compression step in order to see these features.

Cu-Sn diagram

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