Structures and properties of deformation-processed Cu-16Fe-2Cr in-situ composites

Microstructure and properties of deformation processed Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe in situ composite wires obtained by cold drawing combined with intermediate annealing were investigated. At lower strains( η <2.52), most of the Fe(Cr) phases were elongated into filaments except some remain granular because of their higher hardness. The ultimate tensile strengths of Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe are approximately equal at the same drawing strains, suggesting the increase of strength of Cu 16Fe 2Cr due to higher strength of Fe(Cr) filaments than that of Fe filaments which is counteracted by the somewhat coarse Fe(Cr) filaments in Cu 16Fe 2Cr at the same drawing strains. The increase of the electrical conductivity of Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe after intermediate annealing is attributed to the precipitation of Fe, Cr atoms, which dissolved during melting processing. Electrical conductivity of the Cu 16Fe 2Cr in situ composites is higher than Cu 18Fe in situ composites at the same drawing strains. The addition of Cr to Cu Fe system can increase mechanical stability of the filaments in the composites.