Exploring the Versatility of High-Performance Copper Alloys

On April 22, at the CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference & Copper Industry Expo – Copper Pipe and Billet Processing Industry Development Forum, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., with Jiangxi Copper Corporation and Yingtan Land Port Holdings Co., Ltd. as the main sponsors, Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. as the special co-organizer, and Xinhuang Group and Zhongtiaoshan Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd. as co-organizers, Xiao Zhu, General Manager of Hunan Gaochuang Kewei New Materials Co., Ltd., shared insights on the topic of "High-Performance Copper Alloy Rod Manufacturing Technology and Applications."

► Introduction to Dispersion-Strengthened Copper Products

Product Characteristics: High strength and hardness, resistance to high-temperature softening up to 980°C, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, non-magnetic, and anti-adhesion.

► Preparation Methods for Dispersion-Strengthened Copper

► Challenges in Preparing Dispersion-Strengthened Copper Materials

Excess free oxygen and coarse alumina particles at grain boundaries are the root causes of hydrogen embrittlement and cold-working cracking.

For every 100g of copper containing 100ppm of oxygen, 14cm3 of high-pressure steam can be generated during hydrogen annealing at 800°C, causing the copper to rupture.

► Core Technologies and Production Processes for Dispersion-Strengthened Copper

The company has utilized proprietary R&D technologies to effectively address two core challenges in the industrialisation of dispersion-strengthened copper: controlling free oxygen content at the ppm level and achieving uniform distribution of nano-scale Al2O3 particles. This has enabled process optimization, microstructure control, and comprehensive performance enhancement.

► Major Applications of Dispersion-Strengthened Copper in the Welding Field

An ideal material for the new generation of electrodes: Nano-scale Al2O3 particles reinforce the copper matrix, providing stable microstructure, high strength, high hardness, high conductivity, and resistance to high-temperature softening.

► Applications of Dispersion-Strengthened Copper in Other Fields

High-energy combustion chamber heat sinks, CT machine ball valves for medical devices, inertial guidance components, high-voltage DC relay contacts, aerospace radar components, and photon absorbers for high-energy physics experiments.

Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloy

► Introduction to Copper-Nickel-Tin Products

Product Characteristics: Age-hardening alloy with ultra-high strength and elasticity, excellent wear and corrosion resistance, beryllium-free, non-magnetic, and environmentally friendly.

► Technical Challenges

Using first-principles calculations and molecular dynamics to optimize alloy composition, the alloy billets are prepared via powder metallurgy and continuous casting methods. These approaches address the severe segregation of Sn elements during billet preparation and overcome key technical challenges in producing high-performance rods.

Key Technology 1: Homogenization Manufacturing of Large-Scale Powder Metallurgy Ingot Billets and Controlled Forming Technology for Bars

• Key preparation technology for large-scale homogenized billet ingots, addressing the severe segregation issue of Sn elements in large-scale billet ingots; key technology for radial forging and heat treatment of high-performance bars, solving the challenge of precise and efficient forming of products.

Key Technology 2: Homogenization Manufacturing of Large-Scale Melt-Cast Billets and Combined Deformation Heat Treatment Technology

• By optimizing composition, crystalliser design, and controlling the drawing and casting process, inverse segregation is suppressed, significantly improving the dendritic structure of large-scale billet ingots and achieving homogenized billet preparation; key technology for combined deformation heat treatment of high-performance bars, enabling controlled forming of products and enhancing their overall performance.

►Technical Features

Establishment of an alloy system with independent intellectual property rights, optimizing alloy composition through physical and chemical metallurgy and first-principles calculations; excellent mechanical properties, with uniformly structured copper-nickel-tin bars prepared, exhibiting a tensile strength greater than 1100 MPa and an elongation greater than 9%; formation of industrialization capabilities, enabling high-quality manufacturing of large-scale copper-nickel-tin bars.

►Main Application Areas of Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloys

Aerospace: Primarily used in the manufacturing of aircraft landing gear bushings, heavy-duty bearings, and other components;

Petroleum: Primarily used in the manufacturing of drilling couplings, roller bit floating discs, and other parts;

Construction Machinery: Primarily used in the manufacturing of wear-resistant components in various heavy-duty machinery equipment;

Industrial Robots: Can be used in the manufacturing of robot joints, reducers, motors, and other components.

Conclusion and Outlook

Manufacturing of High-Performance Copper Alloys

Development Dimensions

Relying on national-level platforms, tackle key technologies for the manufacturing of high-end copper alloys.

Relying on multiple national/provincial/ministerial-level platforms, innovate and develop towards the forefront of science and technology, consolidate professional expertise through "Double First-Class" disciplines, and provide customized application-oriented services.

In addition, he also elaborates on the overview of Hunan Gaochuang Kewei New Materials Co., Ltd.