Thermo-mechanical processing of Cu-Cr alloys prepared by using electro slag crucible melting

Cu-Cr ingots of Cr contents of up to 2 Wt % were prepared by melting copper scrap using electroslag crucible melting (ESCM). Chromium addition to copper was carried out by in-situ reduction of chromium oxide present in the slag. The Cu-Cr ingots produced were subjected to up to 90% rolling reduction using different combination of rolling and heat treatment. A range of microstructure and mechanical properties was obtained. Alloys with recrystallised microstructure exhibited lower strength and higher ductility. The alloys prepared by ESCM compare well with Cu-Cr alloys reported in the literature. The ESCM route is more attractive as it uses copper scrap for melting and in-situ reduction of chromium oxide for alloying of chromium. ESCM also enables preparation of alloy with high (up to 2%) Cr content.