Fabrication of high-strength and high-conductivity Cu-Ti alloy wire by aging in a hydrogen atmosphere

Age-hardenable Cu-4.2 mol% Ti alloy wire with good conductivity-tensile strength balance (more than 25% IACS and 1100 MPa, respectively) was attempted to fabricate by severe drawing to 99% reduction in cross section, and subsequent aging at 623 K in a hydrogen atmosphere at pressure of 0.8 MPa. The high-strength and conductivity were mainly attributed to the formation of nanosized co-precipitates of Cu4Ti and TiH2 at dislocations and grain boundaries during aging in the hydrogen atmosphere. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.