Effect of aging process on organization and performance of Cu-Cr-Zr-Mg alloys

The organization and performance of Cu-0.4Cr-0.2Zr-0.15Mg alloy after solution treatment at 960 degrees C for 2h, and then cold-rolled to deformations of 80%, finally aging treatment from 400 degrees C to 500 degrees C in argon atmosphere for various periods from 4h to 16h prior to air cooling were analyzed. Eventually the optimum process was aging at 475 degrees C for 16h. At this process condition, the alloy had an excellent comprehensive mechanical properties and conductivity property of the tensile strength, elongation, and electrical conductivity reaching 549MPa,15%,and 82.34%IACS respectively. The microstructure of alloy with the best aging process was analyzed by SEM and EDS and TEM shows that the separation phase distributed diffusely on matrix, the main separation phase is Cr phase which mainly exists as simple substance form after age treatment,the fraction Cr phase forms intermetallic compound with Cu,Zr,Mg. The other phase (as Zr,Mg) exists as intermetallic compound form. The Zr phase doesn't exist as simple substance form.