A high strength and high electrical conductivity bulk CuCrZr alloy with nanotwins

A bulk nanostructured CuCrZr alloy consisting of nanotwins and nanograins was prepared by dynamic plastic deformation at liquid nitrogen temperature. A tensile strength of 700 MPa and an electrical conductivity of 78.5% International Annealed Copper Standard are obtained in the nanostructured CuCrZr alloys processed by means of this one-step deformation without aging treatment. The reason for the increased strength without the sacrifice of its high electrical conductivity was discussed. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.