Influence of the manufacturing heat cycles on the CuCrZr properties

The use of CuCrZr in the proper aged condition is hindered by the manufacturing process of components, which may involve several high temperature steps, which could then degrade the thermo-mechanical properties. To address this issue the European ITER Party have carried out a R&D programme aimed at assessing the effects of different bonding heat cycles. To this aim, CuCrZr in the solution-annealed-water quench condition was subjected to different heat treatments at various temperatures and holding times. The main outcome was that aging temperatures up to 550 degreesC could still guarantee a tensile strength of 300 MPa. Higher joining temperatures (up to 600-650 degreesC) require a certain amount of cold work after the annealing process and prior to the joining cycle in order to achieve an acceptable strength. Up to these temperatures the thermal conductivity is not degraded. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.