Influence of Solution and Aging Treatment Conditions on the Formation of Ultrafine-Grained Structure of CuFe2 Alloy Processed by Rolling with Cyclic Movement of Rolls

Abstract

The effect of second phase particles on grain refinement in CuFe2 alloy has been investigated by using rolling with the cyclic movement of rolls (RCMR) method. Two different population of second phase particles of Fe: coherent, about 10 nm in diameter and about 100 nm in size were obtained by applying aging treatment followed at 500°C for 2 h and at 700°C for 24 h respectively. In addition, solution treated samples were deformed by RCMR method at the same parameters. The microstructures of the CuFe2 alloy were analyzed using light microscope (LM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) microscope technique and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The presence of high-density of coherent Fe particles in the matrix inhibits recovery process and in the result obtained grain/subgrain boundaries have diffused character and are weakly visible. The largest particles which are not coherent with the matrix act as an effective barrier against the boundary motion.

Keywords

• CuFe2 alloy
• severe plastic deformation
• ultrafine-grains
• EBSD
• STEM