Nanostructures and nanoprecipitates induce high strength and high electrical conductivity in a CuCrZr alloy

The mixed nanostructure mainly consisting of nanotwins and nanograins was obtained in a solid solution CuCrZr alloy by means of dynamic plastic deformation at cryogenic temperature. After subsequent aging treatments, the precipitation of Cr at nanometer scale provided further strengthening and brought substantial recovery of electrical conductivity. The aged nanostructured CuCrZr alloy exhibited a high tensile strength of 832 MPa and a high electrical conductivity of 71.2% IACS. The details of precipitation tuned by nanotwin boundaries were demonstrated in this work. The combined strengthening of nanostructures and nanoprecipitates was discussed.