Influence of Heat Treatment and Plastic Deformation on the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Cu-Sc Alloys Prepared by Continuous Casting Process

Paper presents analysis and results of studies on scandium addition to copper from 0.1 wt. % up to 0.4 wt. % and influence of heat treatment and forging process on alloys mechanical and electrical properties. The studies included the production of CuSc0.1, CuSc0.2, CuSc0.3 and CuSc0.4 alloys with the use of metallurgical synthesis and horizontal continuous casting processes. The continuous casting process is a commonly used method for producing rods from various materials for further processing. The research involved the selection of heat treatment for the produced materials in various states of hardening, i.e. immediately after the casting process, after the cold and hot forging process. The research aimed to obtain the highest possible mechanical and electrical properties of Cu-Sc alloys. The studies showed that for CuSc0.4 alloy hardness was at the level of 216 HV (after cold forging and artificial ageing). In case of electrical conductivity, all Cu-Sc alloys were in the range of 27 - 51 MS/m.