The Influence of Rolling Processing on the Structure and Properties of Copper–Iron Powder Materials

• Published in: Powder metallurgy and metal ceramics 2022-07, Vol.61 (3-4), p.162-168
• Main Authors: Voropaev, V. S., Demidik, A. N., Fedoran, Yu. O., Bykov, O. I., Barabash, V. A., Verbylo, D. G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloy powders; Alloys; Annealing; Automotive parts; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cold treatment; Cold working; Composites; Copper; Copper base alloys; Electric contacts; Electric properties; Electric waves; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic waves; Electromagnetism; Glass; Hardening; Heat treatment; Inclusions; Ingots; Iron; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Medical equipment; Melting points; Metal products; Metallic Materials; Natural Materials; Powder metallurgy; Powders; Production methods; Ribbons; Semiconductor production equipment; Semiconductors; Shear deformation; Sintering; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Solid solutions; Theory and Technology of Forming Processes
• ISSN: 1068-1302; 1573-9066
• DOI: 10.1007/s11106-022-00303-y

Copper–iron alloys are used as structural, electrical contact, and elastic materials and those for the protection against electromagnetic waves. They have wide prospects for applications in electronics and in the manufacture of semiconductors, automotive parts, and medical equipment. Conventional methods for producing Cu–Fe alloys by melting and for processing Cu–Fe alloy ingots have some restrictions caused by the segregation of components when the ingots are solidified. The potential use of powder metallurgy methods to produce copper–iron materials is shown. Powder materials with uniform distribution of iron inclusions in a copper matrix are prepared by rolling. The influence of conditions used to form powder ribbons by rolling of the Cu–Fe powder mixture on the distribution of alloy components in the rolled structure was studied. The conditions of sintering and heat treatment of compact copper–iron powder materials and their effect on the mechanical properties of the rolled material with 15% Fe were analyzed. To impart the maximum possible conductivity to the Cu–Fe material, the influence of cold hardening should be minimized and the formation of Cu–Fe solid solutions should be excluded. The influence of the composition (if the formation of solid solutions is excluded) will be practically determined by only the iron content. The effect of cold hardening is reduced by heat treatment of the Cu–Fe ribbons after rolling. Shear deformation in the rolling process and temperatures of sintering and annealing in the range lower than the melting points of components in the Cu–Fe system exclude the active formation of solid solutions and impart the required mechanical properties to the sheet materials.