Aging behavior and precipitates analysis of the Cu-Cr-Zr-Ce alloy

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 °C. 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 °C for 8 h. HRTEM microstructure analysis shows the presence of chromium-rich particles after aging for 18 h at 300 °C. 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.