Copper, brass and bronze strips with controlled properties by RCS method

摘要

Purpose: A growing trend to use the copper-based strips is observed recently world-wide in the electric and electronic industry . Ultrafine grained copper and solid solution hardened copper alloys are applied where high electrical conductivity and good mechanical properties are required.Design/methodology/approach: This study was aimed to investigate microstructure in strips ofcopper alloys with different stacking fault energy value. The investigated materials have been processedby one of the severe plastic deformation method, using different variants of continuous repetitivecorrugation and straightening (CRCS). Deformation was executed by parallel and perpendicularcorrugation and straightening of strip sample.Findings: Continuous repetitive corrugation and straightening is a promising method for refining ofmicrostructure of metallic strips.Practical implications: A growing trend to use copper brass and bronze strips with improvedfunctional properties is observed recently world-wide. Within this group of materials particular attentionis drawn to those with ultra fine or nanometric grain size.Originality/value: The paper contributes to the microstructure evolution of solid solution hardened and age-hardened copper alloys strips produced by original RCS method.