Effect of cold work, second phase precipitation and heat treatments on the mechanical properties of copper–silver alloys manufactured by cold spray

Abstract

In this work, the mechanical properties of copper–silver cold sprayed deposits were studied versus composition (Ag content), deposition parameters and heat treatment temperature and duration. Low oxygen content (<150ppm), low porosity level (<0.1%) and low residual stress level (<1MPa) were reached for deposits leading to an ultimate tensile strength higher than 600MPa with about 10% elongation at rupture. In addition, results show that the high mechanical properties, obtained through second phase precipitation and cold work effect, can also be finely tailored by an adequate composition choice (i.e. Ag content), and further heat treatments.