Mechanical Properties of Cu-4.0wt%Ni-0.95wt%Si Alloys with and without P and Cr Addition

The effects of P and Cr addition and two-step aging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Cu-4wt%Ni-0.95wt%Si alloy have been examined. The addition of 0.02wt%P improves both strength and elongation because it suppresses discontinuous precipitation reaction. The Cr addition to the Cu-Ni-Si-P alloy decreases greatly the grain size, resulting in an increase in elongation. Two-step aging, pre-aging at 300 or 350°C and subsequent second-step aging at 450°C, causes an increase in strength without reducing elongation. The increase in strength is attributable to the decrease in inter-precipitate spacing by the two-step aging. The two-step aged Cu-4wt%Ni-0.95wt%Si-0.02wt%P-0.02wt%Cr alloy attains a tensile strength of 830MPa, an elongation of 13% and an electrical conductivity of 35%IACS.