Influence of Solution and Aging Treatment Conditions on the Formation of Ultrafine-Grained Structure of CuFe2 Alloy Processed by Rolling with Cyclic Movement of Rolls

The effect of second phase particles on grain refinement in CuFe₂ alloy has been investigated by using rolling with the cyclic movement of rolls (RCMR) method. Two different population of second phase particles of Fe: coherent, about 10 nm in diameter and about 100 nm in size were obtained by applying aging treatment followed at 500°C for 2 h and at 700°C for 24 h respectively. In addition, solution treated samples were deformed by RCMR method at the same parameters. The microstructures of the CuFe₂ alloy were analyzed using light microscope (LM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) microscope technique and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The presence of high-density of coherent Fe particles in the matrix inhibits recovery process and in the result obtained grain/subgrain boundaries have diffused character and are weakly visible. The largest particles which are not coherent with the matrix act as an effective barrier against the boundary motion.