New Cu-Cr Composite Doubles Fatigue Strength, Revolutionizing Electrical Applications.
A new conductive material called Cu-15wt%Cr in-situ composite was created for various applications. The material was made by casting, forging, solution-treating, and cold drawing. When tested under cyclic loading, the Cu-Cr composite showed higher fatigue strength compared to pure copper. The fatigue strength increased with higher levels of cold drawing. The fatigue cracks in the composite started from chromium particles and followed along chromium fibers. To enhance the fatigue strength of the composite, reducing the size and amount of chromium particles is crucial.