Electrical conductivity of high-strength Cu-Nb microcomposites

The conductivity of Cu-Nb microcomposites was studied as a function of the composition and the parameters of the microstructure varying with the degree of deformation. The effect of heat treatment on conductivity of Cu and composites is also considered. The conductivity of Cu-Nb composites with the reduction in area lnA/sub 0//A<4.9 is well described by the Landauer formula allowing for conductivity and the volume fraction of the components. The influence of the principal scattering mechanisms on conductivity of Cu in the composite is treated on the grounds of the experimental results obtained in this work and the analysis of the literary data. The linear correlation between strength and conductivity is obtained for the specimens heat treated at temperatures up to 600/spl deg/C. This correlation is violated, however, for the specimens subjected to heat treatment at temperatures above 600/spl deg/C.