Processing, microstructure and mechanical characterization of dispersion strengthened Cu-1%Y

•It is possible to produce dispersion strengthened Cu-1Y following a powder metallurgy route.•There are Y-rich particles distributed in the copper matrix, both with micrometer and sub-micrometer size.•The ECAP deformation of the specimens gives place to an important refinement of the grain size distributions.•A study of the tensile strain hardening rates has been carried from the experimental σ-εpl curves.