The effect of element x on the shape memory properties of cualmg based alloy and investigation of the usability of copper produced from chalcopyrite concentrate of elaziğ region in this alloy

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most common and economically important mineral among sulphide copper ores. Although it is not suitable for direct metallurgical processes due to the iron and sulphur it contains, effective copper recovery can be achieved through hydrometallurgical processes carried out with appropriate chemical solvent. This method offers advantages in terms of sustainable production by providing lower energy consumption and environmental impact compared to pyrometallurgical methods that require high temperatures. Additionally, its ability to process low-grade ores and the high precision of process control make hydrometallurgy a strategic alternative for chalcopyrite processing. The hydrometallurgical processing of chalcopyrite plays a critical role in the efficient use of economic resources in the production of advances functional materials such as shape memory alloys (SMAs) further highlights the importance of this approach. SMAs belong to the class of smart materials due to their ability to respond to external stimuli by remembering a specific shape. Their high temperature resistance and transformation capability demonstrate the strategic importance of these alloys in the field of engineering. This thesis study consists of two stages. In the first stage, the aim is to produce metallic cooper using chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and to produce high temperature shape memory alloy (HTSMA) from this copper. Advanced grinding processes were first applied to the chalcopyrite concentrate to be produced hydrometallurgically, and XRD analyses revealed that the XRD peak intensity decreased with grinding time, but there was no change in the quartz peaks. The grinding process increased the surface area of the particles, reduced the reaction temperatures, and decreased the activation energy. However, agglomeration was observed aat grinding times of 60 minutes and above, and the optimal grinding time was determined to be 30 minutes. Copper was extracted using sulphuric acid leaching and electrolysis, and the extracted copper was cast into ingot alloys in a quaternary CuAlMnMg arc melting furnace under an argon atmosphere. The obtained alloy was cut into 3x4x5 mm dimensions, subjected to heat treatment at 900 oC for 1 hour, and immediately quenched in water. Although the obtained alloy exhibited images similar to those of SMAs in XRD and SEM images, it failed to demonstrate the characteristics of an SMA, as it only produced a peak at 700 oC in DSC/DTA curves. This is believed to be due to the insufficient purity of the copper obtained through electrolysis. In the second stage of the thesis, CuAlXMg (X= Co, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Ni, Zn, Fe) alloy elements were commercially obtained with 99.9 % purity. The alloys were cast in ingot form in an argon atmosphere using an arc melting device, and the resulting alloys were cut into specific proportions, subjected to heat treatment at 900 oC for 1 hour, and then quenched in water. The homogenized were analyzed using DSC, DTA, SEM-EDX, XRD and VSM. In the literature, alloys with a martensitic transformation temperature above 100 oC are defined as high temperature shape memory alloys, and the alloys produced in this study are HTSMA. CuAlXMg alloys have high potential for advanced engineering applications and functional material development studies. As a result, the alloy produced in the first phase of the thesis did not exhibit shape memory properties. In the second phase, it was determined that high purity elements are critical for the production of HTSMA and that these alloys have significant for industrial applications and advance research.