Development of materials related to the 60T and 100T magnets

In the past year, the effort in materials science related to the 60T and 100T magnets at Los Alamos has been concentrated in three areas: (a) development of a fabrication route for Cu-Ag wire in collaboration with Handy and Harman and IGC and (b) investigation of the mechanical properties of a variety of potential high strength high conductivity materials (c) selection of the reinforcement materials for the coils and development of a fabrication route for these materials. The selection of the conductors and reinforcement materials is based on their mechanical properties and electrical properties at cryogenic temperature ({minus} 196 C). The authors have taken the approach of trying to relate the properties both to design requirements and to the service life of magnet. Thus, they have given some consideration both to the role of the internal stresses developed during the fabrication on the elastic-plastic transition and on the mechanical and thermal stability of heavily drawn wires. The feasibility of the fabrication route and the cost of manufacturing the materials must also be considered. They have emphasized the need to develop a fabrication route capable of producing the conductors with homogeneous mechanical and electrical properties and with a cross-section of 8.6 mm x 5.2 mm and 146 m in length or longer for a 100T magnet