Designing ultrafine microstructures in Al–40 wt%Cu and Cu–15.6 wt%Al alloys

We report the method of producing ultrafine microstructures in Al–40 wt%Cu and Cu–15.6 wt%Al alloys by utilizing the combined effect of undercooling and oxide flux. The disc-shaped ingots were made. The surface indentation characteristic of materials having different microstructures was investigated. The values of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the materials were estimated with the help of hardness values based on the empirical correlations available in literature. It has been found that microstructural refinements and morphological changes alter the Meyer exponent. The changes in microstructural features achieved during processing of the disc-shaped ingots for these alloys are discussed in relation to existing models.