The mechanical properties of OFHC copper and CuCrZr alloys after asymmetric rolling at ambient and cryogenic temperatures

This work deals with comparing the mechanical properties of OFHC copper and CuCrZr alloys processed by asymmetric ambient rolling (ASaR) and asymmetric cryo-rolling (AScR). The conditions for asymmetrical rolling were ensured by different diameters of the main rolls. The thickness of samples was reduced about 20% - 70% at ambient temperature and at a temperature of liquid nitrogen. Mechanical properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, reduction of area and microhardness were determined for all rolled samples. Rolling at cryogenic temperatures provide about 50-60 MPa more tensile strength for Cu and 60-80 MPa for CuCrZr alloys when rolling at ambient temperature. After AScR of CuCrZr alloys, a start of precipitation was shifted at the temperature of 434 degrees C and recrystallization was a part of the precipitation peak. According to the results, plastic deformation through shear bands is the dominant mechanism in materials with lower stacking fault energy (CuCrZr) treated under cryogenic conditions.