Preparation and Tensile Property of Nanostructured Cu-Ag Alloy with Bimodal Grain Size Distribution
Nanostructured Cu-Ag alloys with bimodal grain size distribution were prepared and their tensile deformation behaviors were studied. The alloys were processed by hot isostatic pressing of blends of nanoand micrometer-sized powder particles. The microstructure of the alloys consisted of nanograins with an average grain size of 40 nm and coarse-grains with an average grain size of 30 um. The bimodal structured alloy exhibited high tensile strengths 522 MPa and a large plastic strain to failure approximately 30%. Simultaneously, Their tensile stress-strain curves displayed a long work-hardening region, and their tensile ductility increased with increasing coarse-grained volume fraction. The high strength primarily results from the contribution of nanograins, while the enhanced ductility may be attributed to the improved strain hardening capability by the presence of coarse grains.