Mechanical properties of Cold Spray deposited NARloy-Z copper alloy

This work focuses on the properties of a Cu-3 wt.% Ag-0.5 wt.% Zr alloy deposited by a Cold Spray process. Helium was used as the carrier gas and main gas to obtain a high deposition efficiency, low porosity and high mechanical properties. The effect of deposition parameters and heat treating on the microstructure and mechanical properties was explored. An ultimate tensile strength higher than 650 MPa, a yield strength of about 600 MPa and a Vickers micro hardness HV0.2 higher than 220 were obtained, values which compare quite favorably with those corresponding to a classically forged material. The deposits microstructure and more particularly the plastic deformation of particles upon impact were observed by optical and electronical microscopy. The residual stress level was also investigated as a function of heat treating.