Microstructure of a new ODS Cu-0.7wt-%Cr-0.11wt-%Zr material produced by a novel powder metallurgical method

A new oxide dispersion strengthened Cu-0.7wt-%Cr-0.11wt-%Zr material was processed via mechanical alloying (MA) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). A fine dispersion of yttria particles (Y2O3) was incorporated to the Cu matrix via the addition of yttrium (III) acetate tetrahydrate (C6H9O6Y center dot 4H(2)O) powder (Y3ATH), which decomposed during thermomechanical processing and subsequent thermal annealing. The microstructure after consolidation by HIP revealed the coexistence of zones with a low and high density of precipitates/particles, LDPZ and HDPZ, respectively. The HDPZ were characterized by fine grains with an average size of similar to 300 nm and fine Y-O rich particles (similar to 40 nm) and Cr rich coarse particles (similar to 215 nm), homogenously distributed in the Cu matrix. However, the LDPZ contained coarse grains containing 60 degrees/< 111 > (sigma 3) twins' boundaries.

Automated summary

A new oxide dispersion strengthened Cu-Cr-Zr material was successfully processed via mechanical alloying and hot isostatic pressing, with a fine dispersion of yttria particles in the Cu matrix. The microstructure revealed the coexistence of zones with low and high density of precipitates/particles, showing different characteristics in terms of grain size and distribution.