Optimization of strength, ductility and electrical conductivity of Cu-Cr-Zr alloy by combining multi-route ECAP and aging

PÜRÇEK G., YANAR H., Demirtas M., ALEMDAĞ Y., SHANGINA D. V., DOBATKIN S. V.

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, vol.649, pp.114-122, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 649
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.msea.2015.09.111
  • Journal Name: MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.114-122
  • Keywords: Copper alloys, Equal-channel angular pressing, Aging, Mechanical properties, MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES, WEAR PROPERTIES, NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS, TENSILE DEFORMATION, PLASTIC-DEFORMATION, COPPER-ALLOYS, MICROSTRUCTURE, EVOLUTION, BEHAVIOR, AL
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Properties of Cu-Cr-Zr alloy with ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure produced by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) via different routes have been investigated. Special attention was paid to the optimization of multi-functional structural, thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of the alloy by aging of UFG one. Multi-pass ECAP via different routes gives rise to the formation of a deformation-induced submicrocrystalline structure with the grain (subgrain) sizes in the range of 200-300 nm depending on applied routes which leads to high hardness and strength in the Cu-Cr-Zr alloy with reduced ductility. Amongst the applied routes, route-Bc was found to be the best processing path for achieving the lowest grain size, the highest hardness and strength. Aging of 8Bc-processed UFG samples increases the hardness and strength of Cu-Cr-Zr alloy while retaining an electrical conductivity comparable to that of aged coarse-grained (CG) one. A satisfactory electrical conductivity of 71%IACS without considerable loss of peak hardness was achieved after aging of 8Bc-processed UFG alloy at 425 degrees C for 240 mm. The precipitation strengthened UFG alloy remains its stable behavior at elevated temperatures up to 450 degrees C. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.