Solid-state transformations in copper-based alloys

Abstract

Although copper itself does not undergo any allotropic changes, the field of copper alloys provides one of the richest areas of diverse crystal structure transformations in the solid state. All the major transformation modes occur in one form or another in some alloys in which copper is one of the major constituents, and some characteristic modes such as the order–disorder, the massive transformation, and the spinodal decomposition have been identified first in copper-bearing materials. Progress continues to be made in the study and application of all such transformation modes and is briefly reviewed.