In the present study, the effect of titanium content on the structure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of Cu-3wt%Si alloys were investigated. The experimental alloys were produced with various titanium concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 3% by weight using permanent mould casting technique. Tensile, hardness, impact and conductivity tests were carried out on the cast samples. Micro-structures of the specimens were also analyzed using optical microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used to characterize the cast specimens. The results indicated that the addition of titanium to Cu-3wt%Si alloy refined and modified the structure of the alloy resulting in improvement in the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, hardness and Young’s modulus of the experimental alloy by 442.3%, 425%, 70.59%, 53.9%, respectively at 1.5wt%Ti content and percentage elongation, impact strength and electrical conductivity by 186.24%, 187.67% and 7.26% respectively at 0.1wt%Ti content. The addition of titanium also led to the formation of CuTi2 phase which further contributed to the increase in strength and hardness of the alloy.
Cite this paper
Onyia, C. W. , Nnuka, E. E. , Nwambu, C. N. and Ekwedigwe, C. M. (2023). Effect of Titanium Content on the Structure, Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Cu-3wt%Si Alloys. Open Access Library Journal, 10, e902. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1110902.
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