Abstract:In order to obtain high quality copper cathodes, a comparative study of microstructure and mechanical properties of copper cathodes produced by conventional electrolytic method from four domestic companies was carried out. The microstructure, grain size, grain orientation and fracture morphology of copper cathodes were analyzed by XRD, OM and SEM, and the mechanical properties of electrolytic copper sheets were analyzed by universal testing machine, impact testing machine and micro hardness tester. The results show that the surface of copper cathodes produced by the traditional electrolytic method of the four companies all show strong selective orientation on the (220) crystal surface, and the homogenization of the weave has a certain effect on the grain refinement, while there is a certain connection between the grain size and mechanical properties, which shows that the smaller the grain size, the higher the strength, hardness and toughness of the material, but the grain refinement affects the plastic deformation ability of the material and reduces the elongation. In addition, all four companies" copper cathodes show characteristics typical of ductile fracture, and the abnormal fracture phenomenon during the tensile process indicates that the presence of defects such as nodules can have a great impact on the performance of copper cathodes.