INTERNAL OXIDATION OF RAPIDLY SOLIDIFIED CU-ZR ALLOYS

ODS (oxide dispersion-strengthened) copper alloys exhibit a combinatio n of high electrical and thermal conductivity, good mechanical propert ies and stability of microstructure at higher temperatures. These mate rials are commercially produced by internal oxidation of Cu-Al alloys with less than 1.5 at.% Al, yielding 1 to 3 vol.% of fine Al2O3 disper soids, The coarsening of the dispersoids at higher temperatures and th e influence of the particle-matrix interface on the efficiency with wh ich the second phase inhibits dislocation motion, make it necessary to identify new more effective dispersoids for copper matrices. The resu lts presented in this paper show the feasibility of the rapid solidifi cation - internal oxidation - approach to produce fine dispersions of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) in a copper matrix.