On the Prediction of Strength from Hardness for Copper Alloys

Abstract EN

Hardness and strength values of over 55 copper alloys strengthened by solid solution strengthening, precipitation hardening, cold working, and dispersion strengthening were compiled.

The yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) values of the copper alloys examined ranged between 50 to 1300 MPa and 200 to 1400 MPa, respectively.

The compiled values were classified based on strain-hardening potential an indirect method to understand the effect of strain-hardening characteristics.

Least squares regression analysis was employed to establish correlations between strength and Vickers hardness values.

Strain-hardening potential showed a significant effect on the correlations.

In all the cases, a linear relation was obtained for both YS and UTS with hardness for the entire range of values under analysis.

Simple empirical equations were proposed to estimate the strength using bulk hardness.

The proposed correlations obtained for the entire range of values were verified with experimental values.

A good agreement was observed between experimental and predicted values.