Nanostructured strong-adhesive Cu-Cr surface alloys

Principle investigators:

1. Markov Aleksey Borisovich, President’s advisor, PhD
2. Yakovlev Evgeniy Vitalievich, Researcher. ( yakovev@lve.hcei.tsc.ru )

For the first time, a strong-adhesive surface alloy has been synthesized that includes very small (10–30 nm) particles of chromium, evenly distributed in a copper matrix. The synthesis has been carried out by layer-by-layer deposition of chromium films and their subsequent mixing with the copper substrate (in the liquid phase) with pulsed electron-beam processing. Chromium particle sizes are thousands of times smaller than those for conventional casting of Cu-Cr alloys. Due to this fact, the alloy has been characterized by improved properties (wear resistance was 5 times higher, and the electric field strength was 1.5 times greater) and will be used to fabricate electrodes for vacuum switches.

Publication:

Markov A., Yakovlev E., Shepel D., Bestetti M. Synthesis of a Cr-Cu surface alloy using a low-energy high-current electron beam // Results in Physics. – 2019. – Vol. 12. – P. 1915-1924. doi:10.1016/j.rinp.2019.02.010 (WoS, Q1)