TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic enhancement of strength-ductility in ODS copper alloy by exploring heterogeneous structure
AU - Li, Yang
AU - Chen, Cunguang
AU - Sun, Wei
AU - Qi, Miao
AU - Yan, Jie
AU - Zhang, Changle
AU - Liu, Han
AU - Ren, Yang
AU - Liu, Xinhua
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - This work presents a novel one-step extrusion method for preparing Al2O3 nanoparticles dispersion strengthened (ODS) copper with heterogeneous structure, overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma. Ultrafine Cu-0.75 wt% Al alloy powder produced by gas-water combined atomization was processed into ODS copper powder through oxidation in air at 350 °C, further diffusion of oxygen in copper matrix in nitrogen at 450 °C, and then reduction in hydrogen at 650 °C. High-energy ball milled ODS copper powder was loosely sintered and subsequently extruded into ODS copper rods. The results show that the heterogeneous structure consisted of ultrafine grains in ODS copper and coarse grains in pure copper was formed after annealing of hot extruded ODS copper rods. The ultrafine grains were attributed to the strong pinning effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on grain boundary migration, while coarse grains were due to recrystallization growth of grains derived from the sintering and hot extrusion of unexpected pure copper particles on the surface of the ODS copper powder. Owing to comprehensive strengthening mechanisms of dispersion strengthening, grains refinement, and hetero-deformation induced strengthening, compared to the as-extruded homogeneous structure, the annealed ODS copper with heterogeneous structure amazingly exhibited a 64 % increase in elongation while maintaining an excellent tensile strength of 565 MPa, significantly higher than previous work reported. These findings can provide insights into the synergistic enhancement of strength-ductility in novel copper alloys. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
AB - This work presents a novel one-step extrusion method for preparing Al2O3 nanoparticles dispersion strengthened (ODS) copper with heterogeneous structure, overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma. Ultrafine Cu-0.75 wt% Al alloy powder produced by gas-water combined atomization was processed into ODS copper powder through oxidation in air at 350 °C, further diffusion of oxygen in copper matrix in nitrogen at 450 °C, and then reduction in hydrogen at 650 °C. High-energy ball milled ODS copper powder was loosely sintered and subsequently extruded into ODS copper rods. The results show that the heterogeneous structure consisted of ultrafine grains in ODS copper and coarse grains in pure copper was formed after annealing of hot extruded ODS copper rods. The ultrafine grains were attributed to the strong pinning effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on grain boundary migration, while coarse grains were due to recrystallization growth of grains derived from the sintering and hot extrusion of unexpected pure copper particles on the surface of the ODS copper powder. Owing to comprehensive strengthening mechanisms of dispersion strengthening, grains refinement, and hetero-deformation induced strengthening, compared to the as-extruded homogeneous structure, the annealed ODS copper with heterogeneous structure amazingly exhibited a 64 % increase in elongation while maintaining an excellent tensile strength of 565 MPa, significantly higher than previous work reported. These findings can provide insights into the synergistic enhancement of strength-ductility in novel copper alloys. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
KW - Dispersion strengthened copper
KW - Heterostructure
KW - Powder metallurgy
KW - Strength-ductility synergy
KW - Strengthening mechanism
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U2 - 10.1016/j.msea.2025.148194
DO - 10.1016/j.msea.2025.148194
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 0921-5093
VL - 931
JO - Materials Science & Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing
JF - Materials Science & Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing
M1 - 148194
ER -