INVESTIGATION OF THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF COPPER ALLOYS

Abstract

This paper focuses on the investigation of thermal and electrical properties of copper alloys produced at Copper Mill Sevojno. The investigated copper alloys include high-purity copper (Cu-DHP) and a series of brass alloys with different zinc content (CuZn15, CuZn28, CuZn30, CuZn37). The samples were subjected to different thermomechanical treatments, including annealing at different temperatures and plastic deformation to different degrees, resulting in soft, semi-hard, or hard material states. Measurements of thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity were carried out in the temperature range from 25 to 400 °C using the light flash method (Discovery Xenon Flash, DXF-500). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to determine thermal characteristics, while electrical conductivity was measured using the “Institut Dr. Förster Sigmatest 2.063” device. The results showed significant differences between the samples, depending on their chemical composition and thermomechanical treatment. For instance, Cu-DHP demonstrated the highest thermal and electrical conductivity, while conductivity for a series of brass alloys decreased with increasing zinc content. The collected data provide a clearer picture of the behavior of these alloys, especially in terms of heat and electrical transport.