Precipitation behavior and electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of Cu-0.9Be-1.5Ni-0.04Y alloy

• Published in: Materials today communications Vol. 39; p. 108617
• Main Authors: Niu, Zuozhe, Wang, Pei, Qiao, Shi, Song, Hao, Ma, Rulong, Hao, Zhenhua, Shu, Yongchun, He, Jilin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Electrical conductivity; Microstructure; Precipitation sequence; Solid solution and aging; Strengthening mechanisms; Precipitation sequence; Electrical conductivity; Microstructure; Strengthening mechanisms; Solid solution and aging
• ISSN: 2352-4928; 2352-4928
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.108617

The optimum solid solution and aging processes for Cu-0.9Be-1.5Ni-0.04Y alloys, as well as the microstructure and strengthening mechanisms during aging were investigated. The results show that the optimum solid solution and aging temperatures are 980℃ and 480℃, respectively. During aging treatment at 480°C, the precipitation sequence of the Cu-0.9Be-1.5Ni-0.04Y alloy was supersaturated α solid solution → GP zone → γ″ phase → γ′ phase → γ phase. As increasing the aging time, the microhardness and yield strength of the alloy showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, with the maximum of 220.9 HV and 626 MPa, respectively. The strengthening mechanisms of the nanoscale γ" and γ' phases in Cu-0.9Be-1.5Ni-0.04Y alloy were the shear mechanism and orowan mechanism, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the alloy increased and then remained more or less constant with increasing aging time, with a maximum of 39.78%IACS. The difference between the theoretical and measured values of the electrical conductivity of the alloy after aging at 480℃ for different times was less than 1%. [Display omitted] •The optimum solid solution and aging temperatures are 980℃ and 480℃, respectively.•The precipitation phase transformation rate is initially slow, then increases rapidly and finally slows down.•The variation between theoretical and measured electrical conductivity of alloy is within 1%.