High strength, ductility, and electrical conductivity of in-situ consolidated nanocrystalline Cu-1%Nb

Nanocrystalline metals—with grain sizes less than 100 nm— have strengths exceeding those of coarse-grained and even alloyed metals [1], [2]. A bulk nanocrystalline Cu-1%Nb alloy was synthesized by an in-situ consolidation mechanical alloying technique. The mechanical behavior of this alloy was investigated by hardness and tensile tests. The nanostructure was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy. Electrical resistivity was measured using a four-point probe technique. The dilute additives of Nb and the processing conditions induced artifact-free bulk nanocrystalline materials that possess extraordinary high strength, good ductility, and high electrical conductivity.