Microstructure of wound conductors for high field pulsed magnets

Wire samples of Cu-Nb and Cu-Ag were wound around a 15 mm diameter mandrel to replicate the circumstances of pulse magnet winding. Longitudinal and transverse sections were prepared for electron microscopy and analysis from both wound and non wound samples. Microstructural investigation of these sections shows that micro-cracking occurs at the tension side of the wire with corresponding deformation at the compression side. Investigation of the sections of non wound samples show that filament size and distribution is not uniform in these conductors