Properties of Selected High-Strength Composite Conductors With Different Strengthening Components

High field magnets require the development and fabrication of large quantities of conductors with both high strength and high electrical conductivity. This combination of properties can be obtained from copper matrix composites either in macroscopic or microscopic form. Deformation can strengthen these composites further by either inducing dislocations or refining microstructure. During deformation, the strengthening component either retains its original shape or flows with the matrix, depending on its original hardness. In general, a non-deformable component is initially harder than one that deforms with the matrix. Co-deformation in both component and matrix leads to very high strength levels that are significantly greater than those that can be achieved in composites strengthened by non-deformable components. Thus, to properly choose a system for application in high field magnets, we must consider the detailed mechanisms of strengthening that are operative in materials with ultra-fine scale microstructure. In this paper, we compare composites strengthened by either deformable or non-deformable components and describe parameters for the design and fabrication of materials selected for high field magnets.