New Cryogenic Processing for the Development of High Strength Copper Wire for Magnet Applications

A comprehensive study of the effects of 77 K deformation on the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of copper is presented. A cryogenic wire drawing process has been developed that was expected to produce higher strength at 295 K than that can be achieved with conventional processing methods. This should be possible because of the reduction of dynamic recovery of copper relative to that observed for the room temperature process. …