Properties Of Cu-Cr Alloy Research Articles

Effect of High-Pressure Torsion Temperatures on the Precipitation and Properties of Cu-Cr Alloy.

This study examines the impact of high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing at various temperatures on the precipitation behavior of Cu-Cr alloys. The introduction of defects through HPT is observed to promote the precipitation of Cr atoms. Unlike the traditional large-scale precipitation that typically occurs around 400 °C, HPT can induce the precipitation of solute atoms even at room temperature. Furthermore, the temperature at which HPT is performed significantly influences the behavior of the precipitated phase during subsequent aging, ultimately affecting the alloy's overall properties. At elevated temperatures (ETs) and room temperature (RT), Cr atoms tend to aggregate, forming Guinier-Preston (GP) zones or precipitates, which coarsen into incoherent precipitates after annealing. In contrast, when HPT is conducted at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT), Cr atoms are retained in their original positions, leading to the formation of uniformly distributed, high-density small precipitates post-annealing. This phenomenon results in superior properties for HPT-LNT-treated samples, evidenced by a microhardness of 191.8 ± 3.2 HV and an electrical conductivity of 84.6 ± 1.8% IACS.

Study on the impact of Cr content on the microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloys

Copper has excellent electrical conductivity, but the disadvantages of low strength and hardness limit its application range. In this paper, Cu-XCr (X=5, 7, and 9, where 5, 7, and 9 are all mass percentages) alloys were treated as the object of study; the impacts of Cr contents on the microstructure, Vickers hardness, and conductivity of Cu-XCr alloys were investigated using an XHC-SV2 upright metallographic microscope, a digital display Vickers hardness tester, and a Sigma2008C digital metal conductivity meter; the optimal Cr content was determined by the comprehensive performance parameter Z. The research results showed that the second phase of Cu-XCr alloys contained dendritic, nearly spherical, and other shapes. The size was relatively small, and the distribution was relatively uniform; the Vickers hardness improved and the electrical conductivity declined with climbing Cr content; when X=7, the comprehensive performance parameter Z of Cu-XCr alloys reached a maximum of 6.7×105 HV2·%IACS.

Effects of trace calcium and strontium on microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloys

Cu-0.57Cr-0.01Ca and Cu-0.58Cr-0.01Sr (wt.%) alloys were fabricated and processed by thermo-mechanical treatment. Their mechanical and electrical properties and microstructure were investigated in detail and compared with those of a Cu-0.57Cr (wt.%) alloy. The results showed that the softening resistance of the Cu-Cr alloy was significantly improved by the additions of Ca and Sr elements. Compared with the Cu-Cr alloy, the deformation microstructure of the Cu-Cr-Ca and Cu-Cr-Sr alloys was more difficult to recrystallize at elevated temperatures, and the Cr precipitates in the Cu-Cr-Ca and Cu-Cr-Sr alloys were smaller in size and had an FCC structure at any given aging state. The high strengths of the Cu-Cr-Ca and Cu-Cr-Sr alloys were mainly attributed to the dislocation strengthening provided by high-density dislocations and the precipitate strengthening provided by fine Cr precipitates. First-principles calculation showed that the segregations of Ca and Sr atoms at interface between Cr precipitates and copper matrix were favorable in energetics. This segregation effectively hindered the growth of Cr precipitates and significantly enhanced the pinning effect on the motion of dislocations and subgrain boundaries, eventually leading to the improvement in the softening resistance of the Cu-Cr alloy.

Influence of Addition of Al and Ti Solutes and Variable Processing Conditions on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Cu-Cr Alloys

To apply the electric component with high efficiency, the softening problem of material should be improved. Cu-Cr alloys are recognized to be proper materials to be applied. However, the softening problem has not been solved yet. In this study, the effect of Ti and Al on mechanical property and electrical conductivity in Cu-Cr alloy was investigated. Cr content is designed to up to 0.25 wt.% in order to be expected to improve electrical conductivity. During fabrication processing, microstructure identification, Cr concentration, lattice parameter, and micro-hardness in copper matrix were measured. Then, aging condition was investigated. Resistance about over-aging is increased compared to Cu-Cr and Cu-Cr-Al alloy added to Ti. The hardness and electrical conductivity are discussed by the working conditions and heat treatment, such as rolling, solid-solution treatment, and aging process, which improve the formability also at the optimum condition. Moreover, the role of Ti contents is studied. In the Cu-Cr alloys, the addition of both Al and Ti contents keeps the hardness from being reduced. As a result, the precipitation of Cr particles and the obstacle by Al and Ti contents to be softened are observed in this study.

Effects of Nb Addition and Different Cooling Methods on Microstructures and Properties of Cu-Cr Alloys

The Cu-Cr-Nb alloys were prepared by vacuum induction melting with different cooling methods. The effects of niobium contents and different cooling methods on the microstructures and properties of these alloys were investigated. The microstructures were characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The electrical conductivity, hardness and the tensile strength of Cu-Cr-Nb alloys were tested as well. The results showed that the as-cast microstructures of Cu-Cr-Nb alloys consist of primary α phase dendritic and eutectic phase. With the addition of element Nb, the microstructures were refined and the secondary dendritic arm spacing obviously decreased. Compared with the furnace cooling, the homogeneous and refined microstructures were obtained by the graphite mold, and the hardness of the alloys is enhanced greatly. After the heat treatment, two reinforcing phases of Cr and Cr2Nb are precipitated from the copper matrix. The comprehensive properties were obtained when the Nb content is 0.4%. The Cu-1.2Cr-0.4Nb alloy performed by direct aging treatment without solution treatment exhibits the higher performance, the hardness and electrical conductivity are 143HB and 84%IACS, respectively. In addition, the tensile strength and the elastic limit of the Cu-1.2Cr-0.4Nb alloy can reach up to 413.0 and 238 MPa.

The effect of laser surface melting on grain refinement of phase separated Cu-Cr alloy

Grain refinement and homogenization of Cr phase were achieved by laser surface melting (LSM) method, and the properties of Cu-Cr alloy were significantly improved. In this study, LSM of Cu-50Cr alloy (wt.%) was conducted with a high power density (106–107 W/cm2) laser beam, the microstructure and the properties of melt layer were investigated. The size of Cr phase was effectively refined from hundreds of micron scale to several micron scale, and the average size of Cr particles decreased to a few hundred nanometers. High cooling rate effectively inhibited coarsening effect on the Cr particles during liquid phase separation. Spherical Cr particles were dispersed in the melt layer with a thickness of 165 ± 20 μm. Microhardness was obviously enhanced and the maximum hardness was 232HV, which was 2.8 times that of the substrate. Arc duration of the LSM treated contacts increased up to 18%. The withstanding voltage of the fixed and the moving contact increased to 28.7% and 35.4%, respectively. The results show that LSM is an effective method to refine the microstructure of Cu-Cr alloy, and it is a promising modification method for electrical Cu-Cr vacuum contacts.

Effect of magnesium on microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloy

Magnesium was added into Cu-Cr alloy to overcome the traditional limitations of high-cost and large-scale manufacturing of Cu-Cr alloys and to unveil the acting mechanism of Mg on the microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloy. Effect of magnesium on microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloy has been investigated by means of hardness test, electrical conductivity measurement, transmission electron microscopy, three-dimension atom probe tomography technique and X-ray diffraction analysis. The precipitation sequence of Cu-Cr-Mg alloy was similar with that of binary Cu-Cr alloy. Additional magnesium in Cu-Cr alloy accelerated the process of precipitates nucleation, restrained the growth of the precipitates by segregating along precipitates surface during aging. This enhanced the stability of the deformation microstructure and improved the mechanical properties of the alloy. Cu-Cr-Mg alloy showed a better comprehensive properties and softening resistance performance than Cu-Cr alloy at elevated temperature. After aged at 480 °C, Cu-Cr-Mg alloy had a tensile strength of 540 MPa and an electrical conductivity of 79.2 %IACS for the peak aging states, and it still maintained a tensile strength of 515 MPa and an electrical conductivity of 80.8 %IACS after 4 h aging.

Effect of Zr on as-cast microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr alloy

Cu-15Cr and Cu-15Cr-0.24Zr alloys were prepared by means of vacuum medium frequency induction melting technology. The effects of Zr on the as-cast microstructure of Cu-15Cr alloy were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Besides, the effect of Zr on the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of Cu-15Cr alloy was also studied after heavy drawing deformation. The experimental results show that the addition of Zr leads to the formation of thin CuZr compound phase. Moreover, the formation of eutectic Cr phase is inhibited, so that the content of eutectic Cr is much lower than that of Cu-15Cr alloy. The size of dendritic Cr is refined as well. Furthermore, the addition of Zr improves the tensile strength of the alloy, which has little effect on the electrical conductivity. It is observed that when the dependent variable η is 6.44, the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of the alloy can reach 1023 MPa and 72 %IACS respectively, which increases 117 MPa and reduces only by 2 %IACS.

Microstructure evolution and properties of Cu-Cr alloy during continuous extrusion process

The microstructure evolution and properties of a typical precipitation strengthened Cu-0.82Cr alloy during continuous extrusion were investigated by means of optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, hardness and conductivity measurement. The severe plastic deformation and precipitation behavior of the alloy during deformation were discussed in detail. The results showed that hardness increased firstly until reaching the maximum value of 148 HB in right-angle bending, and then decreased in the extending extrusion zone. Severe deformation and precipitation process occurred during continuous extrusion, and the nano-scale precipitates inhibited the recrystallization in some extent, both of which contributed to the properties of the extruded alloy. The extruded alloy had an average grain size of about 1.5 μm, and it reached a yield strength, ultra-strength, elongation and electrical conductivity of 292 MPa, 346 MPa, 34% and 77.5%IACS, respectively.