Table of Conductors

Commercially available high strength conductors used in Magnet Lab magnets.

Copper-Niobium Microcomposites

Microcomposites of copper-niobium have been investigated for both their applicability in magnet technology and their scientific interest for a number of years. Their very high strength arises from a unique microstructure which develops during plastic straining. After very high degrees of deformation, the dendritic, or polyedric, as-cast niobium phase transforms into very fine filaments. The good electrical conductivity is due to the negligible mutual solubility of copper and niobium that leaves the copper matrix essentially pure.

Copper-Silver Microcomposites

Composites made of copper and silver offer a variety of approaches, compositions and treatments to combine strength and conductivity. Both metals reveal a considerable mutual solubility that allows for precipitation strengthening. Furthermore, at approximately 40% copper, the phase diagram shows a eutectic transformation that allows for the solidification of very fine, two-phase microstructures. With plastic deformation, these refine even more and lead to enormous strength and other anomalous behavior. This explains the diversity of research that has been carried out on these alloys and composites.

Copper-Steel Macrocomposites

Copper Base Ternary Microcomposites

To learn more about these topics, consult the MS&T publications page or contact Dr. Ke Han. Information can also be found in "Design of a Repetitively Pulsed Magnet for Neutron Scattering," Bird, Eyssa, Gavrilin, Gundlach, Han, presented at MT-17, Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 2001.