Properties of copper strip prepared from preformed cuprous oxide via concurrent reduction and sintering – hot densification rolling route

Abstract

The properties of cold rolled and annealed copper strip obtained by hot rolling of cuprous oxide preform after concurrent reduction and sintering are described. It is shown that the copper strip has a tensile strength of 225 MN m⁻² coupled with an elongation and electrical conductivity of respectively 47% and 98·4% IACS. The properties are similar to those of conventionally made electrolytic tough pitch copper and strips made by the conventional powder metallurgy route. The finished copper strip has a fine grain fully recrystallised structure and contains about 1·2 vol.-% of Cu₂O inclusions having a mean size of about 1 μm in the rolling direction. The cold rolling and annealing behaviour of the copper strip is also briefly discussed.

MST/687