The influence of the temperature of plastic deformation on the structure and mechanical properties of copper alloys CuCo2Be and CuCo1Ni1Be

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of temperature of plastic deformation on the structure and mechanical properties of copper alloy of the CuCo2Be and CuCo1Ni1Be during a tensile test applied on electrodes to welders. Design/methodology/approach: The tensile test of the investigated copper alloys was realized in the temperature range of 20-800°C with a strain rate of 1.2⋅10-3s-1 on the universal testing machine. Metallographic observations of the structure were carried out on a light microscope and the fractographic investigation of fracture on an electron scanning microscope. Findings: The mechanical properties of alloys as well as the range of occurrence of the Portevin - Le Chatelier (PLC) phenomenon was determined on the basis of F-ΔL curves formed by tensile tests; however the character of fracture during the break of the samples was defined on the basis of fractographic investigations. Research limitations/implications: Practical implications: In result of tensile tests of copper alloys it has been found that the PLC effect occurs in both alloys in the temperature range of 150-350°C. However, the ductility minimum temperature of the alloys equals about 500°C. At the temperature of stretching of about 450°C the investigated copper alloys show maximum strength values. Originality/value: The type of "teething" on the load - displacement curves was defined, according to the classification received in literature. The dependence εkr = f(t) was marked too.