Microstructure and properties of Cu-Fe alloys fabricated via powder metallurgy and rolling

Abstract

In this work, copper ferroalloys (CFAs) with various Fe contents (5, 10 and 30 wt-%) were fabricated via the mechanical alloying and vacuum sintering method, followed by hot and cold rolling. Microstructure, mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), tensile testing, four-point probe, vibration sample magnetometer and dc BH circuit tracer, respectively. The CFAs with homogenous and fine in-situ Fe particles prepared by powder metallurgy showed better performance compared with previously reported conventional casting. After annealing at 400°C, the cold-rolled CFA with 30 wt-% Fe had the tensile strength of 621 MPa, the electrical conductivity of 50.2% IACS, magnetic saturation strength (M_s) of 60.39 emu g⁻¹ and coercivity (H_c) of 98.2 Oe, achieving a good combination of mechanical and functional properties. Relations between the microstructure and mechanical and functional properties are discussed in detail.