The optimization of Cu6Y sourced ODS-Cu: Effect of Y2O3 content

•In this work, the optimization of Cu6Y sourced ODS-Cu: Effect of Y2O3 content were explored. It was found that.•Decreasing the content of Y2O3 indeed thinned the hard boundaries, thereby they were easier plastic deformation, resulting in lower porosity.•Reducing the Y2O3 addition had little influence on the number density of the Y2O3, but reduced the particle size. Compared with the Y2O3 addition, the nucleation point is expected to be more important in the number density of the in-situ formed Y2O3.•The large particles on the prior particle boundaries induced the large dimples and the premature micro-cracks, deteriorating the tensile performance. Reducing the Y2O3 content avoided the aggregation of larger particles around the prior particle boundaries.•The contaminations had a great influence on both the gradient and the values of thermal conductivity. Reducing Y2O3 content was good for thermal conductivity. The properties of in-situ formed ODS-Cu can be further improved once reduce the introduction of contamination and suppress the growth of MA powders.