Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing

Commercially pure Cu features excellent electric conductivity but low mechanical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of Cu, strengthening elements can be added to prepare alloys or composites featuring enhanced performances. This study focuses on the detailed characterization o...

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Main Authors: Lenka Kunčická, Josef Walek, Radim Kocich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/12/1331
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author Lenka Kunčická
Josef Walek
Radim Kocich
author_facet Lenka Kunčická
Josef Walek
Radim Kocich
author_sort Lenka Kunčická
collection DOAJ
description Commercially pure Cu features excellent electric conductivity but low mechanical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of Cu, strengthening elements can be added to prepare alloys or composites featuring enhanced performances. This study focuses on the detailed characterization of the microstructure of a Cu composite strengthened with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles during high shear strain processing. The Cu-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> mixture was prepared by powder metallurgy and directly consolidated by the intensive plastic deformation method of hot rotary swaging. Samples cut from the consolidated piece were further processed by the severe plastic deformation method of high pressure torsion (HPT). The primary aim was to investigate the effects of varying degrees of the imposed shear strain, i.e., the number of HPT revolutions, microstructure development (grain size and morphology, texture, grain misorientations, etc.) of the consolidated composite; the microstructure observations were supplemented with measurements of Vickers microhardness. The results showed that the added oxide particles effectively hindered the movement of dislocations and aggravated grain fragmentation, which also led to the relatively high presence of grain misorientations pointing to the occurrence of residual stress within the microstructure. The high shear strain imposed into (the peripheral region of) the sample subjected to four HPT revolutions imparted equiaxed ultra-fine grains and an average Vickers microhardness of more than 130 HV0.1.
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spelling doaj-art-696a2f6eb2bb451b9bede4795c3224bb2025-08-20T02:43:42ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012024-11-011412133110.3390/met14121331Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain ProcessingLenka Kunčická0Josef Walek1Radim Kocich2Department of Metallurgical Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VŠB Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172-15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicDepartment of Metallurgical Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VŠB Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172-15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicDepartment of Metallurgical Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VŠB Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172-15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicCommercially pure Cu features excellent electric conductivity but low mechanical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of Cu, strengthening elements can be added to prepare alloys or composites featuring enhanced performances. This study focuses on the detailed characterization of the microstructure of a Cu composite strengthened with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles during high shear strain processing. The Cu-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> mixture was prepared by powder metallurgy and directly consolidated by the intensive plastic deformation method of hot rotary swaging. Samples cut from the consolidated piece were further processed by the severe plastic deformation method of high pressure torsion (HPT). The primary aim was to investigate the effects of varying degrees of the imposed shear strain, i.e., the number of HPT revolutions, microstructure development (grain size and morphology, texture, grain misorientations, etc.) of the consolidated composite; the microstructure observations were supplemented with measurements of Vickers microhardness. The results showed that the added oxide particles effectively hindered the movement of dislocations and aggravated grain fragmentation, which also led to the relatively high presence of grain misorientations pointing to the occurrence of residual stress within the microstructure. The high shear strain imposed into (the peripheral region of) the sample subjected to four HPT revolutions imparted equiaxed ultra-fine grains and an average Vickers microhardness of more than 130 HV0.1.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/12/1331coppercompositehigh-pressure torsionmicrostructure
spellingShingle Lenka Kunčická
Josef Walek
Radim Kocich
Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
Metals
copper
composite
high-pressure torsion
microstructure
title Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
title_full Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
title_fullStr Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
title_short Microstructure Development of Powder-Based Cu Composite During High Shear Strain Processing
title_sort microstructure development of powder based cu composite during high shear strain processing
topic copper
composite
high-pressure torsion
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/14/12/1331
work_keys_str_mv AT lenkakuncicka microstructuredevelopmentofpowderbasedcucompositeduringhighshearstrainprocessing
AT josefwalek microstructuredevelopmentofpowderbasedcucompositeduringhighshearstrainprocessing
AT radimkocich microstructuredevelopmentofpowderbasedcucompositeduringhighshearstrainprocessing