The combination of precipitation and dispersion hardening in powder metallurgy produced Cu–Ti–Si alloy

Microstructure and microhardness properties of precipitation hardened Cu–Ti and precipitation/dispersion hardened Cu–Ti–Si alloys have been analyzed. Cu–1.2Ti and Cu–1.2Ti–3TiSi2 (wt.%) atomized powders were characterized before and after consolidation by HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing). Rapidly solidified powders and HIP-ed compacts were subsequently subjected to thermal treatment in hydrogen at temperatures between 300 and 600 °C. Compared to Cu–Ti powder particles and compacts, obtained by the same procedure, the strengthening effect in Cu–1.2Ti–3TiSi2 powder particles and compacts was much greater. The binary and ternary powders both reveal properties superior to those of Cu–1.2Ti and Cu–1.2Ti–3TiSi2 compacts. Microhardness analysis as a function of the aging temperature of Cu–1.2Ti–3TiSi2 alloy shows an interaction between precipitation and dispersion hardening which offers possibilities for an application at elevated temperatures.