Currently, there is a worldwide search for new forms of materials with properties that are significantly improved in comparison to materials currently in use. One promising research direction lies in the synthesis of metals containing modern carbon materials (e.g., graphene, nanotubes). In this article, the research results of metallurgical synthesis of a mixture of copper and two different kinds of carbon (activated carbon and multiwall carbon nanotubes) are shown. Samples of copper-carbon nanocomposite were synthesized by simultaneously exposing molten copper to an electrical current while vigorously stirring and adding carbon while under an inert gas atmosphere. The article contains research results of density, hardness, electrical conductivity, structure (TEM), and carbon decomposition (SIMS method) for the obtained materials.

Research results of manufacturing composite filamentary nanostructure Cu-Ag alloys with silver addition from 5 to 15% wt. are presented in the paper. Manufacturing technology of these composites and variable solubility of silver in copper and copper in silver in the range of solid solutions. Suitable quantity and processing sequences of high deformation plastic working and heat treatment allows to obtain wires constituted from Cu and Ag fibres with nanometric transverse dimensions and in consequence provide to optimum superposition of high mechanical strength, high electrical conductivity and sufficient ductility of Cu-Ag alloys.The paper presents the method of continuous casting of alloys, selected physico-chemical properties and degree of deformation. Influence of chosen heat treatment method over electrical and mechanical properties of both casts and micro wires on mechanical and electrical properties of cast materials during converting them into micro wires with tensile strength higher than 1200 MPa and electrical conductivity higher than 40 MS/m are presented too.Research results of optical and scanning microscopy structure analysis were presented for casts and wires submitted to various thermo-mechanical strengthening.Keywords: silver-copper alloys, continuous casting, drawing, micro-wires, filamentary micro-composite, nanostructure, high conductivity, high strength Praca dotyczy badań nad kształtowaniem zespołu bardzo wysokich własności wytrzymałościowych i elektrycznych drutów i mikro-drutów ze stopów CuAg5 i CuAg15. Technologia wytwarzania drutów ze stopów Cu-Ag wykorzystuje zjawisko obustronnej zmiennej rozpuszczalności składników stopów w stanie stałym. Jak wykazały przeprowadzone badania, odpowiednie połączenie przeróbki plastycznej materiałów o strukturze odlewniczej z międzyoperacyjną obróbką cieplną umożliwia uzyskanie korzystnej kompozytowej mikrostruktury silnie wydłużonych włókien Cu i Ag o nanometrycznych wymiarach poprzecznych. Optymalizacja parametrów technologicznych pozwala na uzyskanie drutów i mikro-drutów Cu-Ag o wytrzymałości na rozciąganie w zakresie 1000÷1300 MPa przy równocześnie wysokiej przewodności elektrycznej wynoszącej 70÷85% w skali IACS.W artykule pokazano metodę uzyskania stopów Cu-Ag oraz wyniki badań wybranych własności fizykochemicznych, schemat odkształcenia oraz badania wpływu wstępnej obróbki cieplnej materiałów w stanie odlanym na zmianę własności elektrycznych i mechanicznych zarówno odlewów jak i drutów po przeróbce plastycznej. Zamieszczono także wyniki obserwacji strukturalnych przy zastosowaniu mikroskopii optycznej i skaningowej odlewów oraz ewolucję struktury po przeróbce plastycznej oraz po różnych etapach międzyoperacyjnej obróbki cieplnej.

Intensive research is underway worldwide to develop new conductive materials for applications in the power industry. Such tests aim to increase the electrical conductivity of materials for conductors and cables, thus increasing the current carrying capacity of the line and reducing the loss of electricity transmission. The scientific discovery of recent years, graphene, one of the allotropic types of carbon with very high electrical and thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, creates great opportunities for designing and producing new materials with above-standard operational properties. This project concentrates on developing technology for manufacturing aluminum-graphene and copper-graphene composites intended to be used to produce a new generation of power engineering conductors. In particular, we present the results of the research on the mechanical synthesis of aluminum-graphene and copper -graphene composites, as well as the results of the electric, mechanical, and structural properties of rods obtained after the extrusion process and wires after the drawing process.

The individual sections, wiring and construction of electromagnet windings responsible for strong magnetic field impulses may be one application for hypoeutectic Cu-Ag alloys. High electrical properties and mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, impact strength) as well as high heat, fatigue and rheological resistance are required for these kinds of applications due to the unique nature of such operations (strong vibrations of high frequency and amplitude resulting from Lorenz forces and the possibility of significant and rapid heating from Jule’s heat). The limited solubility of copper and silver in the solid state enables the effective modification of the alloys’ microstructure through heat treatment and further shaping of their high mechanical and electrical properties via cold plastic working. The article presents the manufacturing of Cu-Ag alloys with the weight percent of Ag between 3 and 7 using the continuous casting process along with research on the physicochemical, mechanical and electrical properties of the obtained casts. The research on the amount of plastic deformation and its influence on the wire drawing process and the mechanical and electrical properties of the wires is also discussed. The temperature coefficients of resistance were defined in order to determine the temperature influence on the electrical resistance changes dynamics. The microstructural analysis was carried out in the as-cast state. The preliminary research conducted indicates that the obtained Cu-Ag alloys in the as-cast state exhibit a set of high mechanical and electrical properties. The prospective next stage of research includes the selection of favourable heat treatment parameters which would provide optimally modified microstructure of the alloys, as well as determining the deformation coefficients allowing for further increases in the mechanical and electrical properties.

All over the world, intensive research is being conducted on the development of new conductive materials to be used in power engineering. The objective of this research is to increase electrical conductivity in wire and cable materials, and consequently, to increase line current-carrying capacities and reduce losses in electric energy transfer. Today, the expectations in the power engineering sector concentrates on conductive materials with electrical conductivity higher than conductivity of base materials, i.e. aluminum. The scientific discovery of the recent years, graphene, one of carbon allotropic variants with a very high electrical and thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, creates great possibilities to design and manufacture new materials, with super-standard functional properties. Graphene, can be a new kind of “alloy additive” to aluminum, which can significantly change their electric and another properties.This article focuses attention on the possibilities of graphene and aluminum synthesis. The researches was made over the different methods of producing these materials, in particular: chemical synthesis consisting in the combination of liquid metal with graphene into a form suitable for further processing in the processes of forming into wires. The article presents the results of mechanical properties and structural studies of aluminum-graphene composites.