Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1609398 | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2015 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
New CuxNb1âx alloys were prepared using a two-step process of ball milling and subsequent high pressure torsion compacting at ambient temperature. The alloys showed a nanocrystalline structure with grain sizes between 13-26 nm for the Cu-rich samples and 11-13 nm for the Nb-rich samples. The grain sizes decreased with the milling time and the amount of Nb in the Cu-rich and Cu in the Nb-rich samples, respectively. The distortion of the crystallographic lattice of the fcc Cu and bcc Nb suggests the formation of a solid solution. The mechanical properties studied by nanoindentation show an increase of the hardness with milling time and the amount of added element. A thermal treatment was carried out under a protective Argon atmosphere. Up to 400 °C the Cu-rich samples do not show significant signs of oxidation and in increase of hardness. The Nb-rich samples showed a continuous increase of the hardness up to 500 °C, due to the precipitation of Cu, and the initial formation of NbOx.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Metals and Alloys
Authors
M.D. Abad, S. Parker, D. Kiener, M.-M. Primorac, P. Hosemann,