130
G. Yao et al.
electrical conductivity evolution during aging will be investigated, which in turn
indicates the precipitation kinetics [5]. Tensile properties of the nano-treated Cu–Cr
will also be tested.
Conclusions
1. In summary, tungsten nanoparticles effectively enhanced the aging behavior of
Cu-1.2Cr. Incorporating 2 volume percent tungsten nanoparticles to Cu-1.2Cr
reduced the peak aging time significantly from 3 h to 45–60 min.
2. Besides, a microhardness increase of 10.28 HV was achieved for the nano-treated
copper–chromium aged for 45 min over the peak-aged pure Cu–Cr.
3. By cold rolling, a microhardness of as high as 194 HV was obtained for the
nano-treated copper–chromium.
4. The nano-treated sample showed improved thermal stability than pure copper–
chromium.
5. This work provides a new pathway to design age-hardenable copper–chromium
alloys with improved properties beyond current limits.
Acknowledgements This work is partially supported by MetaLi LLC.
References
1. Islamgaliev RK, Nesterov KM, Bourgon J, Champion Y, Valiev RZ (2014) Nanostructured
Cu–Cr alloy with high strength and electrical conductivity. J Appl Phys 115:194301. https://
doi.org/10.1063/1.4874655
2. Chakrabarti DJ, Laughlin D (1984) The Cr-Cu (Chromium-Copper) system. Bull Alloy Phase
Diagrams 5:59–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02868727
3. Peng L, Xie H, Huang G, Xu G, Yin X, Feng X, Mi X, Yang Z (2017) The phase transformation
and strengthening of a Cu-0.71 wt% Cr alloy. J Alloys Compd 708:1096–1102. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.03.069
4. Chbihi A, Sauvage X, Blavette D (2012) Atomic scale investigation of Cr precipitation in
copper. Acta Mater 60:4575–4585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.01.038
5. Zhao Z, Xiao Z, Li Z, Ma M, Dai J (2018) Effect of magnesium on microstructure and properties
of Cu-Cr alloy. J Alloy Compd 752:191–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.04.159
6. Liu X, Zhao Q, Jiang Q (2020) Effects of cooling rate and TiC nanoparticles on the microstructure and tensile properties of an Al–Cu cast alloy. Mater Sci Eng, A 790:139737. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139737
7. Pu B, Lin X, Li B, Chen X, He C, Zhao N (2020) Effect of SiC nanoparticles on the precipitation
behavior and mechanical properties of 7075Al alloy. J Mater Sci 55:6145–6160. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s10853-020-04381-4
8. Yuan J, Zuo M, Sokoluk M, Yao G, Pan S, Li X (2020) Nanotreating high-zinc Al–Zn–Mg–
Cu alloy by TiC nanoparticles. In: Tomsett A (ed) Light metals 2020. Springer International
Publishing, Cham, pp. 318–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36408-3_46
G. Yao et al.
electrical conductivity evolution during aging will be investigated, which in turn
indicates the precipitation kinetics [5]. Tensile properties of the nano-treated Cu–Cr
will also be tested.
Conclusions
1. In summary, tungsten nanoparticles effectively enhanced the aging behavior of
Cu-1.2Cr. Incorporating 2 volume percent tungsten nanoparticles to Cu-1.2Cr
reduced the peak aging time significantly from 3 h to 45–60 min.
2. Besides, a microhardness increase of 10.28 HV was achieved for the nano-treated
copper–chromium aged for 45 min over the peak-aged pure Cu–Cr.
3. By cold rolling, a microhardness of as high as 194 HV was obtained for the
nano-treated copper–chromium.
4. The nano-treated sample showed improved thermal stability than pure copper–
chromium.
5. This work provides a new pathway to design age-hardenable copper–chromium
alloys with improved properties beyond current limits.
Acknowledgements This work is partially supported by MetaLi LLC.
References
1. Islamgaliev RK, Nesterov KM, Bourgon J, Champion Y, Valiev RZ (2014) Nanostructured
Cu–Cr alloy with high strength and electrical conductivity. J Appl Phys 115:194301. https://
doi.org/10.1063/1.4874655
2. Chakrabarti DJ, Laughlin D (1984) The Cr-Cu (Chromium-Copper) system. Bull Alloy Phase
Diagrams 5:59–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02868727
3. Peng L, Xie H, Huang G, Xu G, Yin X, Feng X, Mi X, Yang Z (2017) The phase transformation
and strengthening of a Cu-0.71 wt% Cr alloy. J Alloys Compd 708:1096–1102. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.03.069
4. Chbihi A, Sauvage X, Blavette D (2012) Atomic scale investigation of Cr precipitation in
copper. Acta Mater 60:4575–4585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.01.038
5. Zhao Z, Xiao Z, Li Z, Ma M, Dai J (2018) Effect of magnesium on microstructure and properties
of Cu-Cr alloy. J Alloy Compd 752:191–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.04.159
6. Liu X, Zhao Q, Jiang Q (2020) Effects of cooling rate and TiC nanoparticles on the microstructure and tensile properties of an Al–Cu cast alloy. Mater Sci Eng, A 790:139737. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139737
7. Pu B, Lin X, Li B, Chen X, He C, Zhao N (2020) Effect of SiC nanoparticles on the precipitation
behavior and mechanical properties of 7075Al alloy. J Mater Sci 55:6145–6160. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s10853-020-04381-4
8. Yuan J, Zuo M, Sokoluk M, Yao G, Pan S, Li X (2020) Nanotreating high-zinc Al–Zn–Mg–
Cu alloy by TiC nanoparticles. In: Tomsett A (ed) Light metals 2020. Springer International
Publishing, Cham, pp. 318–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36408-3_46