Effect of Hot Forging Parameters on Microstructural Characteristics and Dezincification Resistance of Brass Alloy

Abstract Hot forging, widely used in plumbing systems and valve production for aqueous environments, faces challenges related to dezincification corrosion. Controlling input variables in forging is critical for optimizing material characteristics and mitigating dezincification. Therefore, these properties also play a key role in resisting dezincification. This study investigates the relationships between the microstructural and mechanical properties of post-forging brass components and key controllable parameters in hot forging, specifically the upset ratio, forging temperature, and forging speed. Comprehensive analyses, including dezincification depth assessment, phase analysis, microhardness evaluation, and microstructure examination, were conducted following dezincification tests. The results indicate that forging at an upset ratio of 25 %, a temperature of 800°C, and a speed of 20 strokes/min achieves optimal dezincification resistance, with a minimal dezincification depth of 36.5 μm (longitudinal) and 31.4 μm (transverse) and microhardness values of 88.3 HV. It is also noteworthy that, although these parameters yielded the best results, other tested conditions met the standard for dezincification depth as well, suggesting that multiple forging configurations can achieve satisfactory performance. These findings confirm that selecting appropriate forging parameters can eliminate the need for additional annealing treatments. This study elucidates the critical influence of forging parameters on dezincification resistance and mechanical performance in brass alloys.