Habit plane of a phase with characteristic shape in Cu-43.2mass%Zn alloy

A habit plane of plate-like α phase with peculiar wavy shape in a Cu-43.2mass%Zn alloy was investigated by the observation of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and measuring of SEM-Electron Channeling Pattern (SEM-ECP). The results obtained are summarized as follows. (1) α phase having a wavy shape cross-section was observed at low magnification. It became clear that the α phase has a "galvanized sheets" shape, with the use of observation technique of relief images of α phase by preferential etching of matrix. (2) The preferential growth direction of the α phase is parallel to 〈5 5 6〉 matrix direction and the mean deviation angle between a plane of α phase and {0 1 1} band of SEM-ECP at {0 0 1} matrix plane was about 7 degrees. A habit plane obtained from the both relations is nearly {1 5 5}. (3) When the α phase grows in the cross-sectional direction, the shape becomes round and it looked like a bar with smooth outline at low magnification. From the apparent feature of α phase, which differs from the real, the preferential growth direction and the habit plane of the bar nearly equal to 〈1 1 1〉 matrix direction and {1 1 2} matrix plane, respectively.