Minor titanium addition markedly improves the co-deformability of copper-tantalum composites

We investigated the microstructures of equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) processed sintered composites of copper (Cu) and tantalum (Ta). These composites were produced with nominal Ta volume percentages ranging from 25% to 75%. Additional composites of the same nominal Ta content were prepared with a minor amount of titanium (Ti) added to facilitate interphase bonding. Ti addition was found to markedly improve the strength and co-deformability of the composites, allowing reliable extrusion of Cu–Ta composites with novel microstructures. A major influence of the Ti appears to be to soften the Ta, which contributes to improved co-deformability by reducing the flow stress mismatch between the composite constituents. A change in the fracture surface morphology in the Ti-modified composite compared to the unmodified composite suggests that the Ti may also improve cohesion between Cu and Ta by reducing Ta surface oxides.