Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Ni20Cr Micro-wires with Abnormal Plastic Deformation

Abstract

Ni80Cr20 (Ni20Cr, wt%) micro-wires were fabricated by the cold-drawing method with single die. Abnormal engineering strains were approximately 17.3–46.6 % for each pass. The relationship between mechanical properties and microstructures of Ni20Cr micro-wires were investigated under different engineering strains and annealing conditions. Experiment results indicate that the as-drawn NiCr micro-wires present obviously brittle fractures. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) significantly increases from 781 to 1,147 MPa and the elongation decreases from 17.2 % to 1 % with engineering strains increasing. The deformed microstructures of Ni20Cr micro-wire were analyzed in detail including two-phase (solid solution/amorphous phase), edge dislocations and twins. With the annealing temperature increasing, specimens had experienced three stages and their mechanical properties were improved. After annealing at 890 °C (with 6.5 g stress) for 7.3 s in N2, the Ni20Cr micro-wires benefited for the second drawing pass. The results are very importance in fabricating Ni20Cr micro-wire with the diameter from 25 to 10 μm.

Keywords

• nicr micro-wire
• cold-drawn
• microstructure
• strength property