Influence of as-cast structure refinement on heritability of mechanical properties for Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloys.

• The excellent mechanical properties produced by refined grains can be inherited. • Strengthening mechanism of the as-cast and aged samples is changed. • Dislocation and precipitation strengthening play a dominate role in aged samples. In this investigation, a novel heredity phenomenon was reported that the mechanical properties of thermo-mechanically processed Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloys were improved by refining the as-cast structure. This underlying mechanism of hereditary strengthening was carefully analyzed, which is mainly contributed to the additional dislocation proliferation induced by structure refinement and accelerated precipitation effect on strengthening phases. The strengthening mode changed from grain refinement strengthening in as-cast state to dislocation strengthening and precipitation strengthening for aged alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]