Dynamic Embrittlement in Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti Alloy: Evidence of Intergranular Segregation of Sulphur

• Published in: Journal of materials engineering and performance Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 2331 - 2336
• Main Authors: Chenna Krishna, S., Radhika, K.V., Tharian, K. Thomas, Swathi Kiranmayee, M., Sudarshan Rao, G., Jha, Abhay K., Pant, Bhanu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.08.2013; Springer
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion and Coatings; Engineering Design; Exact sciences and technology; Fractures; Materials Science; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Quality Control; Reliability; Safety and Risk; Tribology; dynamic embrittlement; tensile properties; heat treatment; copper alloy; Heat treatment; Ductility; Embrittlement; Forming; Copper base alloys; Tension test; Intergranular fracture; Grain coarsening; Transition metal alloy; Fine grain structure; Sulfur; Grain boundary segregation; Grain refinement; Thermomechanical treatment
• ISSN: 1059-9495; 1544-1024
• DOI: 10.1007/s11665-013-0510-6

In the present investigation, Cu-0.6Cr-0.005Zr-0.0045Ti alloy was subjected to different heat treatment and thermomechanical treatment (TMT) to simulate the conditions experienced during brazing and forming, respectively. Grain coarsening was observed in the samples subjected to heat treatment, and grain refinement was observed in the samples subjected to TMT. Tensile tests conducted with these samples at room temperature and 600 °C have shown that Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy was susceptible to dynamic embrittlement (DE). However, the observation was limited to coarse-grained samples (280-350 μm) at 600 °C. On the other hand, the fine-grained samples (20-40 μm) showed good ductility. Electron microscopy studies conducted on the tensile-tested specimens prone to DE indicated the presence of sulfur on the fractured surface and intergranular segregation of sulfur. Therefore, it can be inferred from the results that DE due to sulfur can occur in Cu-Cr-Zr-Ti alloy at elevated temperature for coarse-grained samples.