Cu–Ti–C alloy with high strength and high electrical conductivity prepared by two-step ball-milling processes

•Cu–Ti–C alloy was prepared by multiple ball-milling processes.•Both good electrical conductivity and high strength were obtained.•Additions of C and Ti in equal molar amounts led to a good balance of properties.•C addition decreased the amount of Ti in the matrix.•Homogeneously distributed nanocarbides obtained increased the strength.

This study reports a novel Cu–Ti–C alloy prepared using two-step ball-milling processes. Furthermore, the effects of the addition of both C and Ti to pure copper on the electrical conductivity and strength of the developed alloy were investigated in detail. In particular, the addition of both C and Ti in equal molar amounts to the copper matrix yielded an alloy with high strength without sacrificing the electrical conductivity. The addition of C both decreased the amount of titanium in the alloy matrix in the Cu–Ti alloy and led to the formation of homogeneously distributed nanocarbide precipitates in the matrix, which together contributed to the improved properties of the alloy.