Microstructure and mechanical properties of multi-scale α-Fe reinforced Cu–Fe composite produced by vacuum suction casting

Cu–10Fe composites were produced by the vacuum suction casting and traditional vacuum mold casting, respectively. The evolution of microstructure and properties of the composites during cold rolling and aging processes was analyzed. Compared with the traditional mold-casted Cu–Fe composites, the suction-casted Cu–Fe composite had better mechanical properties, with microhardness, tensile strength and elongation of 148 HV, 526 MPa and 23.7%, respectively. The softening temperature of the suction-casted Cu–Fe composite was 520 °C, which was 200 °C higher than that of traditional mold-casted Cu–Fe composite. The good performance of the suction-casted Cu–Fe composite was mainly attributed to the refinement of the Cu matrix and the formation of the multi-scale α-Fe particles caused by the effect of solute trapping during vacuum suction casting. The yield strength of the composites was mainly attributed to the contribution of Orowan strengthening, refinement strengthening and dislocations strengthening, which count for 31.1%, 25.8% and 24.1%, respectively.