Copper-Titanium Alloy Strength and Bending Workability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional copper titanium alloys face a challenge in achieving a balance between strength and bending workability, particularly in the context of miniaturized electronic components where both properties need to be enhanced to meet the demands of increasingly smaller connectors.
Innovation Solution
The copper titanium alloy is formulated with specific Ti concentration fluctuations, controlled by adjusting the coefficient of variation and ten-point average height in the Ti concentration fluctuation curve, along with the inclusion of certain third elements, to optimize strength and bending workability. This involves precise heat treatment and cold rolling processes to manage the distribution and size of second-phase particles, ensuring a balance between strength and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the draft of cold rolling is increased to increase dislocation density and improve strength after aging treatment, then the strength is improved, but the bending workability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the draft of cold rolling within 5-50% and the heating temperature within 700-950°C during heat treatment. These parameter optimizations enable the material to achieve both high strength (improved by dislocation density control) and good bending workability (maintained by preventing excessive work hardening), thereby resolving the technical contradiction between strength improvement and bending workability preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs local quality by creating a modulation structure with periodic fluctuations of Ti concentration in the matrix phase through spinodal decomposition. This results in non-uniform distribution of Ti concentration and dislocation density at the microstructural level, where locally strengthened regions provide high strength while the overall structure maintains flexibility and bending workability
2Strength
If the concentration of third elements is increased to improve strength and bending workability balance, then the property balance is improved, but the alloy composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of third elements (Fe, Co, Ni, Si, Cr, Zr, Mo, V, Nb, Mn, B, or P) within specific ranges (0.003-0.05 mass% for most elements, 0.001-0.03 mass% for B). This parameter optimization allows the alloy to achieve improved balance between strength and bending workability while controlling composition complexity through defined concentration limits
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optimized copper titanium alloy achieves improved strength and bending workability, resulting in a material suitable for high-reliability electronic components with enhanced performance in miniaturized applications.
Implementation Method 1
When a supersaturated solid solution of Ti that is a solute atom is formed by solution treatment, and heat treatment is performed from the state at low temperature for a relatively long time, a modulation structure that is periodical fluctuations of Ti concentration develops in the matrix phase by spinodal decomposition, and the strength improves.
Implementation Method 2
a modulation structure that is periodical fluctuations of Ti concentration develops in the matrix phase by spinodal decomposition, and the strength improves
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention controls the fluctuations of Ti concentration in a copper titanium alloy from a perspective different from conventional perspectives to improve the strength and bending workability of the copper titanium alloy. A copper titanium alloy for electronic components comprising 2.0 to 4.0 mass % of Ti, and 0 to 0.5 mass %, in total, of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Mg, Si, Ni, Cr, Zr, Mo, V, Nb, Mn, B, and P as a third element, with the balance being copper and unavoidable impurities, wherein a coefficient of variation in a Ti concentration fluctuation curve is 0.2 to 0.8, the Ti concentration fluctuation curve being obtained when Ti in a matrix phase for <100>-oriented crystal grains in a cross section parallel to a rolling direction is subjected to line analysis by EDX, and in structure observation of a cross section parallel to the rolling direction, a number of second-phase particles having a size of 3 μm or more per an observation field of view of 10000 μm2 is 35 or less.