Microstructural aspects of Cu–Ag produced by the Taylor wire method

The microstructure and phase transformations of Cu–16at.% Ag fabricated by the Taylor wire technique of drawing molten metals in a glass tube have been studied. As the diameter of the wire becomes smaller and the cooling rate increases, the scale of the microstructure is refined. Nano-crystals of supersaturated solid solution with a 10nm grain size were observed when the wire diameter was less than 10μm. When the diameter of the wire was larger than 20μm, proeutectic Cu and the Cu+Ag eutectic were found. In the region where the Cu–Ag eutectic was formed, a (111) twin orientation relationship was found between Cu and Ag.