Microstructure and properties of as-cast Cu-Cr-Zr alloys with lanthanum addition

Abstract

Cu-0.45Cr-0.2Zr-xLa (x = 0–0.48) alloys were prepared by vacuum casting. The effects of La addition and orientation on the microstructure and properties of the as-cast alloy were investigated by an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, a tensile testing machine and an electrical conductivity tester. The result shows that the addition of La significantly refines the columnar grainsize and decreases the secondary dendrite arm spacing. Trace addition of La improves the room temperature ultimate tensile strength, elongation and electrical conductivity mainly by purifying during melting and casting. The ultimate tensile strength, elongation and electrical conductivity significantly decrease with the increase of La content due to formation of coarse particles and oxides, which severely harm the performance of the Cu-0.45Cr-0.2Zr-xLa alloys. The Cu-0.45Cr-0.2Zr-0.13La alloy possesses a good combination of room temperature ultimate tensile strength, elongation and electrical conductivity. In addition, room temperature ultimate tensile strength and electrical conductivity along transverse direction of the ingot are higher than that along longitudinal direction, which is mainly ascribed to different distribution of grain boundary and grain orientation.