Development of Low Concentration Deformation Processed Cu-Nb and Cu-Cr Alloys

Abstract

Abstract Three copper-chromium (0.5, 3.0 and 5.0 vol.% Cr) and three copper-niobium (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 vol.% Nb) alloys were characterized with respect to strength and electrical conductivity after various degrees of deformation processing by drawing and after various aging treatments for the copper-chromium alloys. The results showed that in the deformation processed condition both the copper-chromium and the copper-niobium alloys exhibited improved strength/conductivity properties as compared to commercial C18000 copper-chromium alloys. However, after various thermal treatments up to 400°C for times up to 36 hours only the copper-chromium alloys showed improved strength/conductivity properties. The strength of the copper-niobium alloys was considerably decreased after a 250°C treatment for 4 hours. It appears that the best strength/conductivity properties after thermal treatments are attained in the 0.5 and 5.0 vol.% Cr alloys. The 3.0 vol.% Cr alloy shows no improvement over the 0.5 vol.% Cr alloy. The ...