In Cu-Al alloy systems, segregation occurs due to the transformation of β→α in the process of cooling,because β⁄(α+β) and (α+β)⁄α solubility curves are located just at the limits of solidification range, and the diffusion of solute atoms in α phase is more difficult to occur than in matrix β phase. Even in an alloy that consists of α mono phase in equilibrium state, (α+δ) eutectoid precipitates in the grain boundary of α phase.
Using the phenomenon of this segregation, a series of alloys which satisfies the following conditions can be obtained: (1) The α-grain size remains uniform. (2) α-path in the eutectoid is constant, and (3) The length fraction of α⁄(α+δ) boundary varies. In this paper, the effects of existence of a brittle phase surrounding the ductile phase on the mechanical properties were investigated by using the alloys which were treated under the abovementioned conditions. The experimental results strictly satisfied the following formula: σ_s = σ_o + K’ [{(γ_1 - γ_2)/d}f + γ_2/d]^1/2 where, σ
s is the yield strength, σ
o is the back stress of dislocations,
d is α grain size, γ
1 and γ
2 are measures of the strength of α⁄(α+δ) boundary and α⁄α boundary, respectively,
f is the length fraction of brittle phase boundary, and
K′ is constant.
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