Microstructures
by George Langford, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1966
Copyright©
2005 by George Langford
Non Ferrous Alloys - Lesson 3 - Fifth specimen
Cast nickel silver at 100X
This is a cast nickel silver containing copper, 18% nickel and 17% zinc.  What do you see here ?

The magnification is 100X, but the etchant was not recorded.  The alpha (the only phase in the specimen except for impurity inclusions) is cored.  Note that each alpha grain is a singe dendrite.  There are shrinkage pores as well.

The copper has lost its characteristic pink or yellow color because of the nickel. 

This alloy is used as a "non-tarnishing" substitute for silver in drafting instruments, etc. 

It does tarnish; and it doesn't look like silver !

                   OK to move on to Specimen 6.