Comparison of microstructure and strength in wire-drawn and rolled Cu-9 Fe-1.2 Ag filamentary microcomposite

Abstract

Comparison of microstructure and strength of Cu-9 Fe-1.2 Ag microcomposite wires and sheets obtained by cold drawing or cold rolling combined with intermediate heat treatments has been made. The primary and secondary dendrite arms are aligned along the drawing or rolling direction and elongated into filaments after cold working. The microstructural scale of wire-drawn microcomposites was found to be finer than that of rolled microcomposites at the same drawing strain. The more effective microstructural refinement induced by unidirectional metallic flow and co-deformation of filament and Cu matrix resulted in finer microstructure in microcomposite wires. The ultimate tensile strength and the conductivity of wire-drawin Cu-Fe-Ag microcomposite were higher than those of rolled Cu-Fe-Ag microcomposites. The strength of Cu-Fe-Ag microcomposites is dependent on the spacing of the Fe filaments in accord with a Hall-Petch relationship. The good mechanical and electrical properties of wires may be associated with the more uniform distribution of fine filaments. The fracture surfaces of Cu-Fe-Ag wires and sheets showed ductile-type fracture and iron filaments were occasionally observed on the fracture surfaces. The fracture surface of Cu-Fe-Ag wires showed generally finer microstructural morphology than that of Cu-Fe-Ag sheets, consistent with the finer microstructural scale in Cu-Fe-Ag wires.