Study on improvement of conductivity of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys

The influence of alloying, heat treatment, and plastic working on the performance of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys was investigated. The precipitated phases were characterized as Cr, Cu51 Zr14 and Cu5Zr. Cu-Cr-Zr alloys demonstrate combination properties of high strength and high conductivity after solution treatment, aging treatment, and plastic deformation. Precipitation course of Cr is the main factor that influences the conductivity of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys, while adding Zr in the alloys adjusts the orientation relationship between Cr and matrix, and tends to increase the conductivity of aged Cu-Cr-Zr alloys after deformation.