Transmission electron microscope investigations on Cu-Ag alloys produced by high-pressure torsion

Abstract

Cu-Ag alloys in three different compositions (Cu-25/50/75wt% Ag) were produced by powder consolidation followed by high-pressure torsion. Deformation was performed till a saturation regime was reached. The generated microstructures were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and vary from ultra-fine grained to nanocrystalline to even partially amorphous structures. Vickers hardness measurements show a strong increase in hardness compared with the pure metals, annealing at 130°C leads to an additional increase in hardness. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.