DEFORMATION-PROCESSED COPPER-CHROMIUM ALLOYS - OPTIMIZING STRENGTH AND CONDUCTIVITY

A developmental research program has been carried out to produce defor mation-processed copper-chromium wires with optimum combinations of ul timate strength and electrical conductivity. Properties are improved b y use of deformation to assist in the precipitation of chromium from s olid solution. Various combinations of deformation, solution heat trea tment plus quenching, and aging have been studied and an optimum proce ssing scheme determined. Using this processing scheme, it is shown tha t deformation-processed Cu-7 vol% Cr wires have strength's on the orde r of 50% higher than commercial copper alloys available in the same co nductivity range of 75 to 90 % IACS.