Microstructure and properties of cold-drawn Cu and Cu-Fe alloy wires

Abstract Copper and Cu-Fe alloy wires were cold drawn at room temperature, and the microstructure and properties were characterized and analyzed. The results show that, at the same drawing strain, the strength and ductility of Cu-Fe wires are higher than those of copper wires. At a drawing strain of 4, the tensile elongation of Cu-Fe alloy wires is about 5%, much higher than 2% for pure copper wires. For Cu-Fe wires, with increasing drawing strain, the Fe phase is elongated along the drawing direction and forms a fiber structure with a <110> texture. In addition to the <111> and <100> fiber textures in the copper wire, a high-intensity of texture with a <112> orientation forms in Cu-Fe alloy wires. The ductility of the Cu-Fe alloy wires is greatly preserved due to dynamic recrystallization. Moreover, with the additional refining effect of nano-copper fibers in the Fe phase, the strength of the material is greatly improved.