Aging behavior and precipitates analysis of the Cu Cr Zr Ce alloy
Abstract Microstructure of the Cu Cr Zr Ce alloy was investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) along with micro hardness and electrical conductivity measurements. The alloy hardness and electrical conductivity can reach 170 HV and 66% IACS, respectively, after 80% cold rolling and aging for 16 h at 300 degC. Under the same aging conditions, without cold rolling, the hardness is 90 HV and electrical conductivity is 44% IACS. Two kinds of Cr and Cu4Zr precipitates were identified by TEM characterization after aging at 400 degC for 8 h. HRTEM microstructure analysis shows the presence of chromium rich particles after aging for 18 h at 300 degC. Precipitates with ordered fcc structure are coherent with the matrix. Most of the precipitates are club shaped chromium rich particles, around 10 15 nm in size. The phase transformation kinetics was determined during aging. This study explored optimized processing conditions of the Cu Cr Zr Ce alloy.