Study of CuCrZr alloy for the production of a passive satellite

Abstract Fracture toughness and tensile tests have been carried out on a CuCrZr alloy to characterize its fracture behavior since it is considered a possible candidate for the construction of a passive satellite. Based on the satellite design requirements some copper-based alloys have been studied. These alloys are interesting candidates for the satellite construction because of their physical properties, such as high thermal conductivity and density, and because of their mechanical properties, in fact CuCrZr alloy is age hardenable. The low ductility and toughness of age hardened alloys are not a critical issue for the satellite body, but it could be a problem for the screws. For that reason, the study of the fracture behavior of this alloy is of crucial importance for material selection in the satellite design.