Structure and Strength of Rapidly Quenched Cu-Al₂O₃ Composites

Abstract

Microstructure of dispersion hardened composites (DC) Cu-Al2O3 prepared by simultaneous vacuum vapor condensation of Cu and A12O3 was studied by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy methods. After high temperature annealing at 900°C for 2 hours the composites retain the submicrocrystalline structure and high level of strength -0.9 GPa. It has been found that strain hardening of vacuum deposited Cu-A12O3 composites takes place in three stages that is not typical for well-known composites of metallurgical origin.