W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
677–682
THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN
LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
POJAV ZMANJ[ANJA PLASTI^NOSTI MALO LEGIRANEGA
BAKRA
Wojciech Ozgowicz1, El¿bieta Kalinowska-Ozgowicz2, Barbara Grzegorczyk1,
Klaudiusz Lenik2
1Silesian University of Technology, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, Institute of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials,
Konarskiego Str. 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
2Lublin University of Technology, Fundamentals of Technology, Nadbystrzycka Str. 38, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
kalinowska-ozgowicz@tlen.pl
Prejem rokopisa – received: 2015-05-19; sprejem za objavo – accepted for publication: 2015-10-12
doi:10.17222/mit.2015.101
This paper presents the results of investigations that allow us to determine the influence of the temperature of plastic
deformation in the range from 20 °C to 800 °C during static tensile tests on the mechanical properties and structure of low-alloy
copper alloys of the type CuCo2 and CuCo2B, completed by measurements of the microhardness and observations of the
structure in a light microscope, and also of fractures in a scanning electron microscope. Based on the results of these
investigations the temperature range for the occurrence of the reduced plasticity of the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B could be
determined.
Keywords: low-alloy copper, plastic deformation, structure, mechanical properties, brittleness
^lanek predstavlja rezultate preiskav, ki omogo~ajo opredelitev vpliva temperature na plasti~no deformacijo v obmo~ju od
20 °C do 800 °C s stati~nimi nateznimi preizkusi na mehanske lastnosti in strukturo malo legiranih bakrovih zlitin, vrste CuCo2
in CuCo2B, izvedenih z merjenjem mikrotrdote ter opazovanjem mikrostrukture v svetlobnem mikroskopu in prelomov v
vrsti~nem elektronskem mikroskopu. Na osnovi rezultatov teh preiskav je bilo mogo~e opredeliti temperaturno podro~je pojava
zmanj{anja plasti~nosti zlitin vrste CuCo2 in CuCo2B.
Klju~ne besede: malo legirani baker, plasti~na deformacija, struktura, mehanske lastnosti, krhkost
1 INTRODUCTION
Low-alloy copper is applied in various ways. How-
ever, most of it is applied in electrical engineering and
electronics. It is also used in the production of welding
electrodes, elements of bearings, non-sparking tools and
chemical apparatus.1–3 High-temperature brittleness
results in a reduced plasticity at the given temperature of
deformation, called the temperature of minimum plasti-
city (TMP).4–6 The reason for this phenomenon concern-
ing the brittleness of copper alloys has not been fully
explained yet; it depends on many factors, mainly on the
chemical composition, the structure of the alloy and the
parameters of the deformation.7–12
The purpose of the present investigations was to
determine the influence of the temperature of deforma-
tion on the mechanical properties, the structure, and par-
ticularly the range of temperature for the reduced plas-
ticity of low-alloy copper, containing cobalt and boron of
the type CuCo2 and CuCo2B.
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
The investigations concerned low-alloy copper type
CuCo2 and CuCo2B smelted in the laboratory in a
crucible induction furnace with a frequency from 500 Hz
to 4000 Hz and the mass of the charge up to 100 kg. In
the course of smelting to liquid the CuCo2B alloy, boron
was added in an amount of 0.005 %. The ready melts
were passed to a graphite gate with a diameter of 30 mm.
After cooling the obtained ingots, re-forged to rods,
15 mm in diameter, on a pneumatic forging hammer, the
weight of its ram amounting to 200 t. For the chemical
compositions of the investigated alloys CuCo2 and
CuCo2B (Table 1).
Table 1: Chemical composition of the investigation alloys
Tabela 1: Kemijska sestava preiskovanih zlitin
Alloy
type
Mass contents in mass fractions, (w/%)
Cu + Ag Co Si Fe Ni P B
CuCo2 96.71 2.76 0.29 0.16 0.01 0.05 –
CuCo2B 96.88 2.86 0.16 0.01 0.01 0.07 0.005
After forging the rods were supersaturated at 900 °C
and cooled in water. The temperature during this proce-
dure was determined based on an analysis of a binary
system of the phase equilibrium of copper with co-
balt.11,12 The temperature of supersaturation was assumed
to be 100 °C higher than the boundary temperature of the
solubility of Co on Cu concerning the tested alloys. The
Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682 677
UDK 669.3:67.017:620.178.2 ISSN 1580-2949
Original scientific article/Izvirni znanstveni ~lanek MTAEC9, 50(5)677(2016)
operation of supersaturation was carried out in an elec-
tric chamber furnace equipped with a controller ensuring
measurements of the temperature with an accuracy of
±2 °C. After their supersaturation the rods were cut into
segments, from which samples were used for testing the
mechanical properties, applying a threaded grip.
The chemical compositions of the alloys CuCo2 and
CuCo2B were tested on monolithic samples in the shape
of disks with a thickness of about 5 mm and a diameter
of 30 mm, cut out from the ingots.
The mechanical properties of the alloys CuCo2 and
CuCo2B were tested on an Instron 1115 universal testing
machine provided with a high-temperature resistance
furnace, including a microprocessing system controlling
the temperature. The procedure of heating was per-
formed in a protective atmosphere containing 95 % nitro-
gen and 5 % hydrogen. Static tensile tests were accom-
plished in the temperature range 20 °C to 800 °C at a
tensile rate of 20 mm/min, corresponding to the strain
rate  = 1.28 10–3s–1. Based on the data on the curves of
tension for the investigated alloys, the tensile strength
(Rm) was determined, and the elongation (A) and the
reduction of the area of the sample (Z) were calculated
based on the geometrical features of the sample previous
to and after the rupture. The result of the tests is the
arithmetic mean of the three measurements.
Metallographic investigations were carried out on
longitudinal microsections of the alloy CuCo2 and
CuCo2B after supersaturation and hot tensile tests. The
samples were immersed in self-hardening resin, and then
mechanically polished. In order to reveal their structure
the samples were etched in a reagent containing 5 g
FeCl3, 10 cm3 HCl and 100 cm3 C2H5OH. Metallographic
observations were performed using an Olympus GX71
(Japan) light microscope with a magnifying power of up
to 1000 times. The size of the grains was measured by
applying the method of sections.
Fractographic tests of the fractions after decohesion
in the tensile test were produced by means of a DSM940
scanning electron microscope by the firm Opton, accom-
plished at an accelerating voltage of 20 kV and magnify-
ing power of up to 3000 times. The precipitation ob-
served on the fractures was investigated by means of an
EDAX X-ray microanalyzer. Prior to the fractographic
test, the sample was ultra-sound cleaned in ethyl alcohol
for 3 min.
The microhardness was measured on a Vickers scle-
rometer, applying a load of 50 g. These measurements
were carried out on metallographic microsections of the
alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B after tension at a temperature
of 20 °C to 800 °C.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the analysis of the chemical compo-
sitions of the investigated alloys have been gathered in
Table 1. The analysis revealed that in these alloys there
is a presence of cobalt and boron, as well as admixtures
of silicon, iron, nickel and phosphorus. These elements
affect mainly the electrical conductivity of copper,
reducing it. Moreover, cobalt and iron increase the hard-
ness of these alloys, and phosphorus is a de-oxidant,
increasing their viscosity.
The results of the static tensile tests allowed us to
determine the effect of temperature on the strength and
plastic properties of the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B, and
thus also to assess the range of temperature at which the
plasticity of the investigated alloys decreases due to the
dependence of elongation, contraction and strength on
the temperature of deformation (Figures 1 to 3). Ana-
lyzing the dependence of the reduction of the area of the
sample on the temperature of deformation of these
alloys, it has been found to be more or less the same. In
both these alloys the range of temperatures at which such
a contraction attains its minimum value is quite evident.
The diagram of the dependence of elongation on the
temperature of deformation of the alloy CuCo2 is cha-
racterized by a varying shape (Figure 1). At 20 °C the
elongation of the alloy amounts to 34 %. An increase in
the temperature of deformation is accompanied by a de-
crease in the value of A, reaching its minimum of 4.7 %
at the temperature of 600 °C. A further rise in the
temperature of deformation to 800 °C involves an in-
crease of the elongation to 22 %. At 20 °C the elongation
of the alloy CuCo2B amounts to 45.7 %. If the tempe-
rature of deformation rises from 20 °C to 550 °C, the
elongation decreases, reaching its minimum of 10 % at
550 °C. A further rise of the temperature of deformation
results in an elongation amounting to 53 % at 800 °C.
The alloy CuCo2B is characterized by a much larger
elongation in the range of the temperature of deforma-
tion from 700 °C to 800 °C than the alloy CuCo2.
Analyzing the dependence of the course of contraction
on the temperature of deformation of the alloys CuCo2
and CuCo2B, it has been found to be similar (Figure 2).
In the case of both these alloys the range of temperature
W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
678 Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682
Figure 1: The influence of the temperature of plastic deformation in
the tensile test on the elongation (A) of the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B
Slika 1: Vpliv temperature plasti~ne deformacije pri nateznem preiz-
kusu na raztezek (A) zlitin CuCo2 in CuCo2B
characterized by a minimum contraction is quite distinct.
The contraction of the alloy CuCo2, deformed in the
range of temperature from 20 °C to 600 °C, decreases,
reaching its minimum at 600 °C (Z = 5.5 %). At a tem-
perature of 600 °C to 800 °C the contraction increases up
to a value of 30.6 %. At the temperature of deformation
20 °C the contraction of the alloy CuCo2 amounts to
71 % (Figure 2).
On the curve of the dependence of the contraction on
the temperature of deformation of the alloy CuCo2B
there occurs a local minimum (Figure 2). In the range of
the temperature of deformation 20 °C to 550 °C the
value of the contraction decreases from 85.7 % at 20 °C
and attains its minimum Z = 10.9 % at 550 °C. A further
rise of the temperature of deformation (to 800 °C) leads
to an increase of the contraction to a value of 84.2 %.
Comparing the diagrams of the dependence of elon-
gation and contraction on the temperature of deformation
concerning the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B, we find that
in both cases there exists a range of temperature in which
these alloys indicate a minimum of the plastic properties,
characteristic for the phenomenon of brittleness (Figures
1 and 2). The alloy with the addition of boron is charac-
terized by brittleness in the range of lower temperatures
than the alloy without boron. The elongation and con-
traction of the alloy CuCo2B exceed those of the alloy
CuCo2 in the entire range of the investigated tempe-
rature. The alloy CuCo2 displays a minimum plasticity
in the range of temperature from 500 °C to 700 °C, and
the alloy CuCo2B at a temperature of 450 °C to 600 °C.
Subjected to a static tensile test in the range of tem-
perature from 20 °C to 800 °C, the investigated alloys
display similar values of tensile strength (Figure 3). The
curve in the diagram of the dependence of the tensile
strength on the temperature of deformation concerning
the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B is a decreasing function.
The tensile strength of the alloy CuCo2, deformed at a
temperature of 20 °C amounts to 237 MPa and drops to
38 MPa at 800 °C, where as in the case of the alloy
CuCo2B it amounts, respectively, to 232 MPa and
34 MPa.
The results of the metallographic investigations
allowed us to determine the influence of the temperature
of deformation on the structure of the CuCo2 and
CuCo2B in the range from 20 °C to 800 °C (Figures 4 to
9). After a hot tensile test the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B
have a variated structure in the zone of rupture and the
central zone of the sample, with sliding bands. In the
central part of the samples the grains have been found
with a hardness of 71–93 HV and twins with straight and
curve-linear boundaries. In the zone of rupture the
structure of the alloy CuCo2, stretched at a temperature
of 200 °C, is characterized by the occurrence of micro-
cracks at the boundaries of elongated grains of the phase
 (Figure 4), and the central part of the sample by axial
grains  with twins (Figure 5). The alloy CuCo2B has a
similar structure in the zone of rupture. The structures of
Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682 679
W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
Figure 4: Elongated grains of the phase  with a micro-crack in the
structure of the alloy CuCo2 after stretching at temperature of 200 °C
(zone of rupture)
Slika 4: Razpotegnjena zrna  faze z mikrorazpokami v strukturi zli-
tine CuCo2, po nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi 200 °C (podro~je
preloma)
Figure 3: The influence of the temperature of plastic deformation in
the tensile test on the strength (Rm) of the alloys CuCo2 and CuCo2B
Slika 3: Vpliv temperature plasti~ne deformacije pri nateznem preiz-
kusu na trdnost (Rm) zlitin CuCo2 in CuCo2B
Figure 2: The influence of the temperature of plastic deformation in
the tensile test on the reduction of area (Z) of the alloys CuCo2 and
CuCo2B
Slika 2: Vpliv temperature plasti~ne deformacije pri nateznem
preizkusu na kontrakcijo (Z) zlitin CuCo2 in CuCo2B
alloys stretched at elevated temperatures display a larger
amount of microcracks occurring at the boundaries of the
grains and at the contact of three grains and twin boun-
daries in the zone of rupture. In the central part of the
sample a heterogeous structure was detected consisting
of a diversified size of the grains (20 μm to 60 μm)
depending on the temperature of the deformation and
due to the process of recrystallization.
In alloys stretched at the temperature of minimum
plasticity (550 °C) the structure in the zone of rupture is
characterized by numerous micro-cracks. In the structure
of the alloy CuCo2B, stretched at the temperature 550 °C,
the zone of rupture contains axial recrystallized grains of
the phase , 40 μm in diameter, and also many micro-
cracks (Figure 6). Also in the central part of the sample
there are micro-cracks at the boundary of the phase 
(Figure 7). The structure of this part of the sample con-
tains grains of the phase  with many twins with
straight-lined boundaries as well as stepped boundaries,
testifying to the advanced recrystallization of the alloy.
In the central part the sample of the alloy CuCo2B there
are grains of the phase  with micro-cracks and precipi-
tations. After their deformation at 600 °C the investi-
gated alloys display the structure of grains of the phase
, varying in their size, with twins and micro-cracks
(Figures 8 and 9). The structure of the alloy CuCo2B,
elongated at a temperature of 800 °C, displays numerous
micro-cracks both in the zone of rupture and in the
central part of the sample. In the structure of the central
part of the sample the micro-cracks occurred in the front
recrystallization due to the presence of large grains of the
W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
680 Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682
Figure 8: Differentiated grains of the phase  with the twins and
micro-cracks in the structure of the alloy CuCo2B after stretching at
the temperature 600 °C (central zone)
Slika 8: Diferencirana zrna  faze z dvoj~ki in mikrorazpokami v
strukturi zlitine CuCo2B po nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi
600 °C (sredina vzorca)
Figure 7: Micro-cracks at the boundaries of the phase  in the
structure of the alloy CuCo2B after stretching at a temperature of
550 °C (central zone)
Slika 7: Mikrorazpoke na mejah  faze v strukturi zlitine CuCo2B po
nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi 550 °C (sredina vzorca)
Figure 6: Recrystallized grains of the phase  and numerous cracks in
the structure of the alloy CuCo2B after stretching at a temperature of
550 °C (zone of rupture)
Slika 6: Rekristalizirana zrna  faze in {tevilne razpoke v strukturi
zlitine CuCo2B po nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi 550 °C (pod-
ro~je preloma)
Figure 5: Elongated grains of the phase  with twins and bands of
deformation in the structure of the alloy CuCo2 after stretching at a
temperature of 200 °C (central zone)
Slika 5: Razpotegnjena zrna  faze z dvoj~ki in deformacijskimi pa-
sovi v strukturi zlitine CuCo2 po nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi
200 °C (sredina vzorca)
phase (about 100 μm) with a hardness of about 60 HV
and a revealed substructure (Figure 9). The size of the
grains in the phase  of the structure of the alloy
CuCo2B results from the way of recrystallization in the
course of and after the plastic deformation during the
tensile test.
The results of fractographic investigations allowed us
to determine the influence of the temperature of defor-
mation on the character of the fractures of the alloys
CuCo2 and CuCo2B after decohesion in the tensile test
in the range of temperature from 20 °C to 800 °C.
The fracture of the alloy CuCo2 and CuCo2B after
the decohesion in the tensile test indicates a diversified
character depending on the temperature of tension. At
the temperature of deformation amounting to 200 °C, the
investigated alloys are characterized by a transcrystalline
ductile fracture with numerous craters differing in the
W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682 681
Figure 13: Result of the quantitative microanalysis of the chemical
composition of a precipitate in the alloy CuCo2 after a tensile test at
550 °C
Slika 13: Rezultati kvantitativne mikroanalize kemijske sestave
izlo~ka v zlitini CuCo2 po nateznem preizkusu na 550 °C
Figure 10: Transcrystalline ductile fracture in the alloy CuCo2 after a
tensile test at 200 °C
Slika 10: Transkristalni `ilav prelom zlitine CuCo2 po nateznem
preizkusu na 200 °C
Figure 9: Coarse grains of the phase  with sub-grains in the structure
of the alloy CuCo2B after stretching at a temperature of 800 °C
(central zone)
Slika 9: Velika zrna  faze s podzrni v strukturi zlitine CuCo2B po
nateznem preizkusu na temperaturi 800 °C (sredina vzorca)
Figure 12: Intercrystalline brittle fracture in the alloy CuCo2 after a
tensile test at 600 °C
Slika 12: Interkristalni krhki prelom zlitine CuCo2 po nateznem
preizkusu na 600 °C
Figure 11: Intercrystalline brittle fracture in the alloy CuCo2B after a
tensile test at 550 °C
Slika 11: Interkristalni krhki prelom zlitine CuCo2B, po nateznem
preizkusu na 550 °C
diameters and precipitations in the bottom (Figure 10).
The lateral planes of the craters are considerably corru-
gated.
At the temperature of deformation amounting to
550 °C and 600 °C, these alloys display brittle inter-
crystalline fractures with many micro-cracks and precipi-
tations (Figures 11 and 12).
The planes of the cracks indicate the effects of plastic
deformation. At the bottom of the crater on the fracture
of the alloy CuCo2 precipitations were found, the che-
mical composition of which was determined by means of
an X-ray analysis (EDAX) and proved to contain
96.55 % copper and 3.55 % cobalt (Figure 13). In the
alloy CuCo2 deformed at 600 °C; an inter-crystalline
brittle fracture was detected with micro-cracks at the
boundaries (Figure 12), whereas in samples deformed at
800 °C a fracture mixed with cracks on the grain boun-
daries was observed.
4 CONCLUSIONS
The performed investigations and analyses of the
obtained results allow us to draw the following conclu-
sions:
1. The low-alloy copper type CuCo2 reaches its
minimum plasticity in the tensile test at a temperature
of deformation from 500 °C to 700 °C, whereas in
the case of the alloy CuCo2B the minimum value is
attained at a temperature of 450 °C to 600 °C.
2. An increase in the temperature of plastic deformation
from 20 °C to 800 °C involves a decrease in the
tensile strength of the alloy CuCo2 from about 240
MPa to about 40 MPa, and that of the alloy CuCo2B
from about 230 MPa to about 25 MPa.
3. The temperature of the minimum plasticity (TMP) of
the alloy CuCo2B from 20 °C to 800 °C is about 50
°C lower than the TMP of the alloy CuCo2. With a
microaddition of boron the alloy is also more plastic
(A and Z by about 5 %) in the range of TMP if
compared with the alloy CuCo2.
4. The structures of the investigated alloys of copper in
the range TMP are characterized by homogeneous
grains in the solution , about 40 μm in size, with
numerous micro-cracks at the grain boundaries.
5. The investigated plastically hot-deformed low-alloys
beyond the region TMP have a typical structure of
the solution  with a differing degree of deformation
or dynamic or static recrystallization and a ductile
fracture.
6. Low-alloy copper, in the range of TMP characterized
by minimum plastic properties (A and Z about 5-10
%), displays after stretching a brittle intercrystalline
fracture.
7. A micro-addition of boron involves increased plastic
properties of the alloy CuCo2B in the entire range of
the temperature of plastic deformation and changes
the character of the fracture in the temperature
interval from 550 °C to 800 °C.
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W. OZGOWICZ et al.: THE PHENOMENON OF REDUCED PLASTICITY IN LOW-ALLOYED COPPER
682 Materiali in tehnologije / Materials and technology 50 (2016) 5, 677–682