Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance

, Volume 23, Issue 4, pp 1458–1464 | Cite as

Enhanced Strength in Cu-Ag-Zr Alloy by Combination of Cold Working and Aging

  • S. Chenna Krishna
  • Narendra Kumar Gangwar
  • Abhay K. Jha
  • Bhanu Pant
  • Koshy M George
Article
First Online:
Received:
Revised:

Abstract

In this investigation, the effect of different degree of cold rolling and post-aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Cu-3wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Zr alloy was studied by means of hardness measurement, tensile tests, optical and electron microscopy. The alloy was subjected to cold rolling up to 80% followed by aging in the temperature range of 400-500 °C. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness were found to increase as degree of cold rolling increased, but at the expense of ductility. Aging of cold rolled samples in the studied temperature range has resulted in different combinations of strength and ductility. However, aging of cold rolled samples at 400 °C for 1 h has resulted in a combination of high strength and moderate ductility. A yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 511 and 560 MPa, respectively with a ductility of 12% were achieved for 80% cold rolled and aged (400 °C for 1 h) sample. The high strength achieved after 80% cold rolling and aging is mainly attributed to precipitation of fine silver precipitates.

Keywords

aging cold rolling copper alloy mechanical properties 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank their colleagues at Material Characterization Division, VSSC for their support in characterization of the samples. The authors would also like to express sincere gratitude to the Director, VSSC for his kind permission to publish this work.

References

  1. 1.
    J.J. Lyubimova, B. Freudenbergera, C. Mickel, T. Thersleff, A. Kauffmanna, and L. Schultza, Microstructural Inhomogeneities in CuAgZr Alloys Due to Heavy Plastic Deformation, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2010, 527, p 606–613CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    A. Benghalem and D. Morris, Microstructure and Strength of Wire-Drawn Cu-Ag Filamentary Composites, Acta Mater., 1997, 45, p 397–406CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    D.L. Ellis and W.S. Loewenthal, Comparison of GRCop-84 to Other Cu Alloys with High Thermal Conductivities, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2008, 17, p 594CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    R. Kindermann, S. Beyer, T. Sebald, C. Hollmann, B. Denkena, T. Friemuth, M. Kaufeld, and U. Kolb, Advanced Production and Process Technologies for Current and Future Thrust Chambers of Liquid Rocket Engines, 4th International Conference on Launcher Technology, Liege, 2002.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    T. Nguyentat, V. Gibson, and R. Horn NASA-Z A Liner Material for Rocket Combustion Chambers, 27th Joint Prop. Conf. AIAA Paper, 1991.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    S.C. Krishna, K. Thomas Tharian, B. Pant, and R.S. Kottada, Age-Hardening Characteristics of Cu-3Ag-0.5-Zr Alloy, Mater. Sci. Forum, 2012, 710, p 563–568CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    S.C. Krishna, K.T. Tharian, B. Pant, and R.S. Kottada, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cu-Ag-Zr Alloy, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2013, 22, p 3884–3889CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    T. Wallace, R. Clark, and K. Chiang, Dynamic Oxidation Performance of NARloy-Z with Cu-3 Volume Percent Cr Coating, J. Spacecr. Rocket., 1998, 35, p 546–551CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    J.H. Sanders, P.S. Chen, S.J. Gentz, and R. Parr, A Microstructural Investigation of the Effects of Oxygen Exposure on NARloy-Z, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1995, 203, p 246–255CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    A. Gaganov, J. Freudenberger, E. Botcharova, and L. Schultz, Effect of Zr Additions on the Microstructure, and the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Cu-7wt.%Ag Alloys, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2006, 437(2), p 313–322CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    H.T. Zhou, J.W. Zhong, X. Zhou, Z.K. Zhao, and Q.B. Li, Microstructure and Properties of Cu1.0Cr0.2Zr0.03Fe Alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2008, 498, p 225–230CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Svetlana. Nestorović, I. Marković, and D. Marković, Influence of Thermomechanical Treatment on the Hardening Mechanisms and Structural Changes of a Cast Cu–6.6wt.% Ag Alloy, Mater. Des., 2010, 31, p 1644–1649CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    G.E. Dieter, Mechanical Metallurgy, Vol 3, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1976Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    J.H. Su, P. Liu, Q.M. Dong, H.J. Li, F.Z. Ren, and B.H. Tian, Recrystallization and Precipitation Behavior of Cu-Cr-Zr Alloy, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2007, 16, p 490–493CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    S. Nagarjuna, K. Balasubramanian, and D.S. Sarma, Effect of Prior Cold Work on Mechanical Properties, Electrical Conductivity and Microstructure of Aged Cu-Ti Alloys, J. Mater. Sci., 1999, 34, p 2929–2942CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    N.D. Stepanov, A.V. Kuznetsov, G.A. Salishchev, N.E. Khlebova, and V.I. Pantsyrny, Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Cu14%Fe Alloy During Severe Cold Rolling, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2013, 564, p 264–272CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Q. Liu, X. Zhang, Y. Ge, J. Wang, and J.Z. Cui, Effect of Processing and Heat Treatment on Behavior of Cu-Cr-Zr Alloys to Railway Contact Wire, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2006, 37, p 3233–3238CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    M.S. Lim, J.S. Song, and S.I. Hong, Microstructural and Mechanical Stability of Cu-6wt.% Ag Alloy, J. Mater. Sci., 2000, 35, p 4557–4561CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Y. Fujikawa, K. Nakajima, T. Sakurai, E. Shizuya, and T.J. Konno, A Study on Age Hardening in Cu-Ag Alloys by Transmission Electron Microscopy. In Kawazoe Y. et al. (eds.), Frontiers in Materials Research, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Adv. Mater. Res., 2008, 10, p 217–226CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Klauss.H. Schult, Strain Enhanced High Strength Cu–Ag–Zr Conductors, Mater. Sci. Forum., 2010, 633–634, p 15–707Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    J. Freudenberger, J. Lyubimova, A. Gaganov, H. Klauß, and L. Schultz, Mechanical Behaviour of Heavily Deformed CuAgZr Conductor Materials, J. phys. Conf. Ser., 2010, 240, p 012112Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    W.D. Callister and G.R. David, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, Wiley, New York, 2007, p 571–619Google Scholar

Copyright information

© ASM International 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • S. Chenna Krishna
    • 1
  • Narendra Kumar Gangwar
    • 1
  • Abhay K. Jha
    • 1
  • Bhanu Pant
    • 1
  • Koshy M George
    • 2
  1. 1.Material Processing Research Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreTrivandrumIndia
  2. 2.Materials and Mechanical Entity, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreTrivandrumIndia

Personalised recommendations