Development of high-strength and high-electrical-conductivity hypoeutectic Cu-Zr alloys

High-strength and high-electrical-conductivity hypoeutectic Cu-Zr alloys have been developed. The authors succeeded in balancing characteristics well in a wide range of mechanical strength and electrical conductivity by using dispersion strengthening and fiber reinforcing techniques in nano scale. These have been put to practical use by first processing hypoeutectic Cu-Zr alloy cast-material into ultra-fine wires, and are applied to various cable and wire-electrode applications. In contrast, SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) material using commercially available powders as a raw material is in practical use as a bulk material. The history of development of hypoeutectic Cu-Zr alloys from their alloy design, their manufacturing process, and the development of eutectic/hypereutectic Cu-Zr alloy SPS material are shown in this paper. © 2019 Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy.