Age-hardening characteristics of Cu-2.4Ni-0.6Si alloy produced by the spray forming process

摘要

The microstructural features and heat treatment response of a spray formed Cu-2.4Ni-0.6Si (wt. percent) alloy have been investigated. The alloy was aged at 450 deg C either in the as spray formed condition or after a cold deformation of 40 percent reduction in original thickness. Some of the samples were subjected to a solution treatment at 900 deg C for 1 h prior to their cold deformation to 40 percent of original thickness and subsequent ageing. The variation in hardness and electrical conductivity of the alloys was measured as a function of ageing time. The results indicated the highest peak hardness value of approximately 250 kgf mm~(-2) for the alloy aged after the solution treatment and cold rolling, compared to the maximum hardness of 220 kgf mm~(-2) for samples aged directly in as spray formed condition. However, the electrical conductivity was observed to be a maximum of 62 percent IACS in samples which had only been cold rolled. This behaviour is discussed in the light of microstructural characteristics associated with different processing conditions of this alloy.