INFLUENCE OF MICROALLOYING AND THE THERMOMECHANICAL METHOD OF PROCESSING ON THE COMMINUTION OF THE COPPER STRUCTURE

Copper, as a basic element, was alloyed with iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P). This paper presents the results of the copper structure comminution in the Cu-Fe-P alloy, with the chemical composition containing 0.003 w/% and 0.014 w/% of Fe and P, respectively, and with certain mechanical and structural characteristics. A homogeneous Cu-Fe-P alloy was synthesized to generate certain mechanical and structural properties, meeting the strict requirements of industry. These requirements refer to Vickers hardness (HV10) which should be from 45 to 70, tensile strength (Rm) with a minimum of 230 N/mm2, relative elongation (A) with a minimum of 40 %, and number of grains (Kz) of around 4000 grains/mm2. In order to achieve the required conditions, a series of samples of the mentioned alloy were tested. Molten, chemically homogenized material was subjected to an extrusion process. Also, to achieve the above characteristics, cold processing (rolling) was used with deformation degrees of (10, 30, 50, 75, 80) %. Recrystallization annealing, for the purpose of creating a fine-grained structure, was done at 450 °C in a protective atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen, with annealing times of (35, 90, and 150) min. The results indicated that optimal conditions for the required mechanical and structural characteristics of the material were achieved at a deformation degree of 80 %, an annealing time of 150 minutes and a temperature of 450 °C.