The current state of CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys manufactured by additive manufacturing: A review

• Published in: Materials & design Vol. 224; p. 111419
• Main Authors: Tang, Xiangpeng, Chen, Xiaohong, Sun, Fujia, Liu, Ping, Zhou, Honglei, Fu, Shaoli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorptivity; Additive manufacturing; CuCrNb; CuCrZr; Mechanical properties; Thermal properties; CuCrNb; Thermal properties; Mechanical properties; Absorptivity; Additive manufacturing; CuCrZr
• ISSN: 0264-1275; 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.111419

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•The various AM-ed high-heat-flux copper alloys CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys are built by different processes, including L-PBF, EB-PBF, LP-DED, AW-DED and HLADED processes. The optimization of building parameters, the approaches to enhance the absorptivity of copper alloys are stressed.•The microstructure, crystallographic texture, and precipitates of AM-ed CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys are summarized. The precipitates mainly include Cr, CuxZry, and ZrO2 particles for AM-ed CuCrZr, and Cr and Cr2Nb particles for AM-ed CuCrNb alloys, respectively.•The mechanical and thermal properties of various AM-ed CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys are presented, including anisotropic properties, the effect of heat treatments on the properties and the properties at high temperature.
Additive manufacturing (AM) has gained attention in recent decades. Due to excellent mechanical and thermal properties, pure copper and its alloys are widely in nuclear and aerospace industries. CuCrZr and CuCrNb are precipitation hardenable alloys. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of current research works on CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys built by various AM processes (especially laser powder bed fusion, L-PBF). Due to high reflectivity for near infrared laser and high thermal conductivity, it is still challenging to build copper alloys by conventional L-PBF process. Therefore, three approaches to enhance the absorptivity of the alloys have been discussed. The microstructure, including texture and precipitates have been discussed. The mechanical, electrical and thermal properties at room temperature and high temperature, anisotropic properties, and post-heat-treatments have been discussed in the review. In addition, the outlook of the AM-ed CuCrZr and CuCrNb alloys has been highlighted.