Effect of Solution Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Extruded Cu-15Ni-8Sn Alloy

The effects of solution treatment on the microstructure evolution of hot-extruded Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloy were investigated by optical microscope (OM), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile testing, and the effects of solution temperature and time on the mechanical properties of the alloys were analyzed. The results indicated that, the γ-phases precipitated at first and then dissolved with the extension of the solution time during solutionizing at 800 C,the volume fraction of theγ-phase reached its peak at about 1h. However when solutionizing at 860°C, theγ-phase solely dissolved gradually with the extension of the solution time . In addition, a small amount of annealing twins appeared intragranular in the process of solution treatment. The γ-phase dissolution and the grain growth of α (Cu) were the main softening factors of the alloy during the solution treatment. Through overall consideration, the optimum solution treatment was annealing at 840°Cfor 1 h.