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Microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast and wire-drawn ternary Cu-Ag-Nb in situ composite

Journal Article · · Acta Materialia
 [1];  [2]
  1. Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  2. RWTH, Aachen (Germany). Inst. fuer Metallkunde und Metallphysik

A ternary in situ metal matrix composite consisting of Cu, 8.2 wt% Ag and 4 wt% Nb was produced by inductive melting, casting, and subsequent wire drawing. The material was very ductile so that a maximum wire strain of {eta} = 10.5 was attained without intermediate annealing ({eta} = ln(A{sub 0}/A), where A is the wire cross-section). The wire has a very high strength (1,840 MPa at {eta} = 10.5) and at the same time good electrical conductivity (46% of the conductivity of pure Cu). The wire strength is much larger than predicted by the linear rule of mixtures. Up to wire strains of {eta} {approx} 8 the strength even exceeds that of Cu-20 wt% Nb. The paper concentrates on the investigation of the evolution of the filament microstructure during wire drawing and its relation to the observed mechanical properties. The strength is discussed in terms of a Hall-Petch- or phase-barrier-type effect that arises from lattice dislocation pile-ups at the interfaces.

OSTI ID:
289506
Journal Information:
Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 46; ISSN 1359-6454; ISSN ACMAFD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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