Effect of Cerium and Lanthanum Additives on the Phase Composition of the Copper-Nickel Alloys

Abstract : An experimental study of the phase composition for nine samples of the Cu–Ni–Ce–La alloys with different content of components was carried out. The nickel concentration in the experimental samples varies from 3 to 40 wt. %, the sum of cerium and lanthanum concentrations was not exceed 7 wt. %. Alloys samples of the system Cu–Ni–Ce–La were studied using scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis, as well as X-ray analysis. Also, Vickers micro hardness was measured on the cross sections of the experimental samples. In this work, the conditions of intermetallic compounds formation in the as-cast samples were studied. The results of the work can be used for the technological processes analysis of copper and copper-based alloys production.