Strain hardening behavior of a two-phase Cu–Ag alloy processed by high-pressure torsion

Disks of a coarse-grained Cu–28 wt.% Ag alloy and pure Cu were processed by high-pressure torsion and the microhardness was investigated as a function of the imposed strain. It is shown that the Cu–Ag alloy displays a much stronger strain hardening capability than Cu due to a continuous refinement of the microstructure. A two-stage Hall–Petch relationship was obtained for the Cu–Ag alloy which is attributed to the development of multi-strengthening mechanisms.