Observation of Short-Range Order in α-Brass by 67Zn Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Using the high-resolution 93.3 keV Mossbauer transition in 67Zn, the α- and β'-phases of the Cu-Zn alloy system were investigated. Our results show the presence of short-range order. Already at low concentrations of Zn in Cu a local Cu-Zn configuration is seen, which closely resembles that of the ordered β'-phase. Furthermore, we observe throughout the α-phase preferred Cu-Zn configurations whose intensities can well be described within the Cu3Zn structure by an appropriate order parameter.