Plastic deformation of composites CuNb, Cu/Nb(Ti), and Cu-Sn/Nb(NbTi)

Transmission electron microscopy was used to study Cu/Nb, Cu/Nb(Ti), and Cu -Sn/Nb(NbTi) composites prepared by various techniques (in-situ and mechani cal mounting/deformation) and subjected to various regimes of deformation a nd annealing, These materials, consisting of a fine mechanical mixture of c opper and niobium, combine high strength and good conductivity. A sharp (11 0) axial texture is formed in the niobium filaments of these high-strength multifilamentary conductors upon heavy plastic deformation by drawing. The filaments take a ribbon-like shape with a limited texture on the (111), (10 0), (311), and (511) planes. Such a texture is typical of rolled niobium. W ith increasing the degree of deformation, the dislocation density in the ni obium filaments increases, whereas copper or bronze matrices undergo deform ation softening, and the dislocation density in them is no more than 10(10) cm(-2). A similar dislocation distribution is observed in the Nb/Nb-Ti agg regate filaments in the deformed Cu-Sn/Nb(NbTi) composite.