Refinement effect of C addition on the Cr phase in the as-cast Cu-Cr alloys

It is of practical importance to avoid coarse precipitation in the Cu–Cr alloys during vacuum melting and casting processes. The present study indicates that minor C addition can eliminate the coarse Cr dendrites and refine the Cr phase in the Cu–Cr alloys. The reason behind this is analyzed by using the calculation of phase diagram and attributed to the occurrence of liquid phase separation induced by the C addition.