Alloying of Fe, Co was reported to tailor microstructure of copper alloys into a nanoprecipitate-fine grain (NPFG) structure, i.e. nano-sized iron-rich precipitates dispersed inside refined grains. Here, we investigate the solute effect of Sn, Zn on NPFG structure in as-cast copper samples. Mechanisms are proposed to account for the solute effect on precipitate and grain features. Solutes restrict coarsening but facilitate undesirable morphology transition from spherical to angular of iron-rich precipitates. Meantime, solutes allow more precipitates to be active in the nucleation of copper and consequently induce finer grains. Minor Sn is added to optimise NPFG structure and leads to an excellent strength–ductility combination in Cu–1.5Fe–0.1Sn (wt-%) alloy. This work provides a solute-alloying strategy to achieve desired mechanical properties in metals.
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