Effects of intermediate aging on the microstructure, strength and texture evolution of the Cu–Cr–Zr-Hf alloys

Cu-0.4Cr-0.2Zr-0.2Hf (wt%) alloy plates were prepared by cryogenic rolling and intermediate aging process. The effects of intermediate aging and cryogenic rolling on the microstructural, mechanical and textural evolutions were studied by X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the combination of cryogenic rolling and intermediate aging resulted in the formation of high-density dislocations, nanoscale deformation twins, deformation bands, and nano-precipitates in the Cu-Cr-Zr-Hf alloys. The nano-precipitates formed during the intermediate aging effectively increase the flow stress, and promote the formation of the nano-twins. Besides, the combination process can both reduce the fraction of the remnant grains and refine the width of remnant grains, promoting the homogeneous deformation of the Cu-Cr-Zr-Hf alloys. The reduction of the remnant grains decreases the Brass component, and increases the S component. The profuse nano-twins and Brass-type shear band contribute to the increase in the Y component.