2023 journal article
Microstructure development and properties of micro-alloyed copper, Cu-0.3Zr-0.15Ag, produced by electron beam additive manufacturing
Materials Characterization, 197, 112675.
open access via doi.org (publisher)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
(Web of Science)
Source: Crossref
Added: February 22, 2023
A micro-alloyed copper powder, Cu-0.3Zr-0.15Ag wt%, was produced using gas atomization reaction synthesis. Zirconium was added to copper to sequester the oxygen present as copper oxide surface films on the powder particles. The as-received powders, as well as the intentionally oxidized powders were used to fabricate solid test articles by electron beam powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. Dense samples fabricated from as-received powder demonstrated nominal UTS, yield, and elongation values at 260 MPa, 150 MPa, and 34%, respectively. The average electrical conductivity of these samples was measured at 95% of the international annealed copper standard (IACS). Samples fabricated from the oxidized powder exhibited nominal UTS, yield, and elongation of 241 MPa, 146 MPa, and 43%, respectively, with an electrical conductivity of 95% IACS. During characterization, it was observed that, rather than forming nano-scale dispersoids, the Zirconia (ZrO2) appeared as discontinuous stringers in the metallographic cross-sections that crossed grain and melt pool boundaries. This was rationalized by tracing the presence of the micro-alloying addition of elemental zirconium, which was found to react with surface oxides dissociated in the melt pool to form ZrO2, which then solidified on the surface of the melt pool through an allotropic transformation to monoclinic ZrO2 in discontinuous films and spheroids ranging in size from nanometers to microns. This was confirmed by microscopic analysis of the tops of the melt pools. On subsequent melt passes, these ZrO2 structures were displaced and redistributed within the melt pool.