Strength, thermal resistance and electrical conductivity of aluminum-based composite wire

In this work, we demonstrate the possibility of producing a composite high strength and thermal resistant Al-based wire with ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure. Such composite wire consists of two aluminum alloys. Its clad is made of Al-1.17Mg-0.35Zr (wt.%) alloy, and the core is of Al-0.4Zr (wt.%). The specimens of Al alloys separately and as parts of a composite wire were subjected to thermomechanical treatment (TMT) that included annealing at 400°C, equal-channel angular pressing via "Conform" scheme (ECAP-C) and cold drawing (CD). The ratio between the core and clad materials in the composite wire was determined experimentally as well as calculated from the rule of mixtures (additivity). It has been shown that, an ultimate tensile strength over 360 MPa and a long-term operation temperature of 150°C can be achieved in a composite wire at a rational ratio between the chosen aluminum alloys with the UFG structures. Such combination of strength and thermal resistance is accompanied with an electrical conductivity of no less than 50% IACS in a composite wire.