| In order to develop a new type of electrical contact wires with high strength and high electrical conductivity, Cu-2Ag-0.5Y alloy was selected as materials. Cu-Ag-Y alloy was prepared by continuous casting, cold drawing and aging treatment. By means of the analysis of microhardness, electrical conductivity, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, the aging properties and microstructures of the Cu-Ag-Y alloy were investigated at different aging temperatures and time after different cold deformation. The results show that the Cu-2Ag-0.5Y alloy has an excellent combination of microhardness and electrical conductivity aged at 500℃ for 4 h, the microhardness and the electrical conductivity reach 166 Hv and 82.2% IACS, respectively. The main strengthening mechanisms for the Cu-2Ag-0.5Y alloy are the work hardening and the second phase or interfaces strengthening. It was suggested that cold deformation prior to aging treatment can accelerate the precipitation of the second phase, and improve the comprehensive properties of the Cu-Ag-Y alloy. |
