Effect of thermomechanical processing on electrical and mechanical properties of aluminum conductor alloys

摘要

The effect of different thermomechanical processes (hot extrusion and Properzi continuous rolling) on the electrical and mechanical properties of the Al-Fe aluminum conductor alloys was investigated. The microstructural evolution of the supply rods was characterized by an optical microscope, a transmission electron microscope and the electron backscatter diffraction technique (EBSD). Tensile tests and electrical conductivity measurements were carried out at room temperature on the supply rods. Results showed that, at the same Fe content, the continuously rolled rods demonstrated higher tensile strength but lower elongation and electrical conductivity compared with those of the extruded rods. A partially recrystallized structure along with a big subgrain size appeared in the extruded rods while only a dynamic recovery with a small subgrain size was found in the continuously rolled rods. The precipitation of iron-rich dispersoids was observed in the extruded rods and is associated with a depletion of the iron concentration.