Tensile deformation and fracture behavior of a ductile phase reinforced dispersion strengthened copper composite

摘要

Niobium particle reinforced aluminum oxide (Al2O3)dispersion strengthened copper composite is an attractive andemerging engineered material for applications requiring highstrength, high thermal and electrical conductivities and resistanceto softening at elevated temperatures. In this paper, themicrostructure, tensile deformation and fracture behavior of thecomposite is examined. The strength of the material decreases withan increase in temperature with a concomitant improvement inductility. The cmposite microstructure maintains a high value ofyield strength/ultimate tensile strength ratio. The factorscontributing to increased strength and the intrinsic mechanismsgoverning fracture characteristics of the composite are examinedinlight of intrinsic microstructural effects, nature of loading anddeformation characteristics of the matrix.