HIGH-STRENGTH CU-NI-CR ALLOYS BY THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENT

The effect of thermomechanical treatment (TMT) on the mechanical prope rties of a spinodal Cu-44Ni-5Cr alloy has been investigated. The alloy has been subjected to three different heat treatments: quench --> age ; quench --> cold work --> age; and quench --> age --> cold work --> a ge. Hardness measurements and tensile studies show improved mechanical properties after TMT, While these are found to be stable on aging at 550 degrees C, a rapid loss has been noticed on aging at 600 degrees C . DSC studies show that this is due to a recovery processes at the hig her aging temperature.