The Characteristic of Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of a Cu-Ag <i>In Situ</i> Composite Material

Abstract

A Cu-24 wt % Ag composite alloy is prepared to reveal the evolutions of microstructures, mechanical properties and textures formed by cold rolling. A typical alternating distribution of Cu and Ag phase layers is observed, which becomes much finer with increasing cold rolling reduction. Copper texture ((112)<11-1> texture) and Goss texture ((110)<001> texture) with high intensities are found in the Cu phase of cold rolled samples. Ag phase containing strong Goss texture and weak Brass texture are observed, quite different from the case in cold rolled pure Ag. Significant change of textures, from the Goss texture to (111) textures with increasing rolling reduction, has been found of Ag phase. The strengthening mechanism of this Cu-Ag composite is described by a equation similar to the HallPetch relationship, the fitted results based on which shows good agreement with the experimental data when the layer thickness is lower than 100-200 nm.