The influence of microstructural scale on the combination of strength and electrical resistivity in copper based composites

In many engineering applications materials are required to satisfy two or more selection criteria. An example is the provision of wire for the winding of high field magnets, and a methodology is proposed here that links these design criteria to the processing of fine scale composites. In developing the descriptions of the dependence of both mechanical strength and resistivity on the microstructural scale of the composite the modelling reveals the importance of new processes such as interface scattering and energy storage mechanisms at the interface that give new insights into the behaviour of fine scale structures. Finally from consideration of the scaling laws for strength and conductivity, it is possible to develop a comparison between the efficiencies of microscale, and macroscale composites for high field magnet applications.