Microstructure Stability and Creep Behaviour of a Cu-0.2wt.%Zr Alloy Processed by Equal-Channel Angular Pressing

A dispersion-strengthened Cu-0.2 wt.% Zr alloy was subjected to equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature for up to 12 passes through route BC using a die having a channel angle of 90°. The microstructural investigations were performed using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile creep tests were conducted at temperature 673 K and at the applied stress in the range from 80 to 180 MPa. The migration of boundaries and subsequent grain growth were restricted by Cu9Zr2 precipitates. The study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of severe plastic deformation and precipitation on creep behaviour and microstructure of the pressed alloy. It was found that creep behaviour is strongly dependent on number of ECAP passes. The pressed alloy after up to 4 ECAP passes exhibited a considerable improvement in creep properties in comparison with the unpressed alloy.