The intenral oxidation of CuSi alloys

Abstract

The internal oxidation of Cu-Si alloys has been investigated with particular attention to the kinetics of formation of the precipitated oxide. Experiments were performed on copper alloys containing 0.067 5, 0.15 1 and 0.27 0 wt.% Si at 928, 998 and 1073°K. Measurements included diffusion coefficients of oxygen in copper and number, size and size distribution of oxide particles for various penetration depths of the oxidation front. The results were analyzed on the basis of previously formulated mechanisms for internal oxidation and the Becker-Döring nucleation theory and, on this basis, estimates of supersaturation at the instant of nucleation and of the surface energy between the copper matrix and the precipitated SiO 2 phase were made.