Tensile fracture behavior characterization of dispersion strengthened copper alloys

Abstract

To well characterize alumina dispersion strengthened copper (ADSC) alloys, much work has been performed, while the effect of cold working methods on their microstructures and tensile fracture behaviors in the different directions, and corresponding fracture mechanism have not been studied systematically. In order to carry out such a systematic study, unidirectional and tandem rolling techniques were used to the ADSC alloys. The differences of tensile fracture behaviors between longitudinal and transverse directions for unidirectional rolled ADSC alloys are significant. Their mechanical properties and microstructures in longitudinal and transverse directions were studied. The C–G fracture mechanism was used to explain a sudden reduction of overall stress level in the transverse tensile curves for the unidirectional rolled ADSC alloys. Two fracture models were introduced to describe fracture processes. To reduce mechanical property anisotropy of ADSC alloys, a tandem rolling technology was proposed. Experimental results show this technology can significantly reduce the anisotropy.