Microstructure and properties of Cu-0.6Cr alloy after
vacuum continuous casting
vacuum continuous casting
(1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, China;
2. Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Kaohsiung 81160, China)
2. Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Kaohsiung 81160, China)
Abstract: To promote the solution of chromium in copper and the purity of copper-chromium (Cu-Cr) alloy, vacuum continuous casting (VCC) process was employed to fabricate the Cu-Cr alloy required for electrode material. Cu-0.6Cr (containing 0.6%(mass fraction) chromium) alloy bar with a diameter of 12 mm was cast with a constant rate of 250 mm/min. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and physical properties were discussed. After solid solution strengthening and aging treatments, Cu-0.6Cr alloy fabricated by VCC process has higher tensile strength (σ≥314 MPa), elongation rate (δ≥34%), conductivity (≥80.5% IACS), and hardness (80 HRB) compared to the as-cast alloy.
Key words: Cu-Cr alloy; vacuum continuous casting; solid solution treatment; aging treatment; conductivity