Microstructure evolution and deformation behaviour of Cu-10 wt%Fe alloy during cold rolling

In order to shorten the production process of Cu-Fe alloy and improve the microstructure homogeneity and properties and properties, Cu-10 wt%Fe alloy billet was prepared by double-melt mixed casting process and then cold rolled. Microstructure and mechanical property evolutions of the alloy and its deformation behaviours were investigated. The results showed that the alloy billet had dispersed spherical Fe phase particles and dendritic Fe phases. The alloy billet had excellent plasticity, and the cumulative cold rolling reduction without intermediate annealing reached 98%. When the reduction was 30%, numerous dislocations produced in the Cu matrix and the Cu matrix near the Fe phase underwent local crystal rotation, and the Fe phase particles deformed slightly. When the reduction exceeded 90%, dynamical recrystallization of the Cu matrix happened, fine grains with average diameter of ~300 nm formed, and the dendritic Fe phases were evenly distributed along the rolling direction, which mainly contributed to achieve large-reduction of cold rolling. When the reduction was 98%, the tensile strength and hardness increased from 340 MPa and 87 HV of the as-cast alloy to 543 MPa and 164 HV, respectively, and the elongation and electrical conductivity was reduced to 3.0% and 13.5%IACS. A process of double-melt mixed casting → cold rolling can work as a novel high-efficiency and compact method to produce Cu-Fe alloy sheet. •Cu-10 wt%Fe alloy billet was produced by double melt mixed casting and then cold rolled.•Microstructure evolution and deformation behaviour of Cu-10 wt%Fe alloy during cold rolling was revealed.•Cu-10 wt%Fe alloy billet had excellent plasticity, and the cumulative cold rolling reduction reached 98%.•Most of the Cu matrix was refined into nanocrystalline grains with the reduction exceeded 90%.