Y effects on the Cu-Zr-Fe alloys’ aging behavior and properties
Mixue Guo, Meng Zhou, Jin Zou, Ke Jing, Haoyan Hu, Yi Zhang, Qian Bai, Caijiao Tian, Baohong Tian, Xu Li, Alex A. Volinsky
Abstract
Cu-Zr-Fe(-Y) alloys were prepared by vacuum melting, and their microstructure, elemental distribution and mechanical properties were analyzed. The microstructure evolution , dislocation morphology and precipitated phase distribution due to aging were investigated by electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy . The optimal process parameters for the Cu-Zr-Fe(-Y) alloy after solution treatment at 930 °C with 60% cold rolling are 450 °C aging for 120 min and 500 °C aging for 20 min, resulting in microhardness , electrical conductivity , and tensile strength of 60.9% IACS, 162.4 HV, 512.8 MPa and 54.8% IACS, 177.7 HV, 546.9 MPa, respectively. The addition of Y has a fine grain strengthening effect , resulting in an increase in hardness and strength by 9.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The precipitated Cu 5 Zr and γ-Fe phases pinned the dislocations and played a significant role in the aging hardening of the alloy, being the main contributors to the strengthening effects.