Microstructure and properties of Cu–Nb and Cu–Ag nanofiber composites

There is a growing demand for new high strength and high electrical conductivity materials for the advanced electric applications. The promising materials for generators used to produce strong and variable magnetic fields are Cu–Ag and Cu–Nb wires. Two classical copper alloys were selected for this investigation. The third material used in the studies was produced by bundle drawing of niobium wire in a copper tube. Microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties were examined in relation to processing technology. Microstructure of Cu–Ag wires consisted of silver-rich bands distributed in a copper-rich matrix, whereas that of the Cu–Nb alloy wire was not homogeneous. Despite significant plastic deformation, globular particles of niobium, which do not contribute to the increase of mechanical properties, were also observed in addition to narrow bands of niobium-rich phase. Multiple drawing of Nb wire bundle in a copper jacket is a promising method for the production of Cu–Nb microcomposites. The number of wires increases in geometric progression during subsequent bundling, which results in the reduction of Nb band cross-section. Under this work, a wire having more than 820,000 niobium filaments of a diameter between 100 and 200 nm evenly distributed in a pure copper matrix was produced.