Effects of metallurgical microstructure of armatures on compressed magnetic field generators

Methods for improving uniform expansion behavior of compressed magnetic field device armatures were studied. Initial microstructure of the copper tubes was altered in a controlled manner by using different forming techniques and alloying. Results show a 25 to 50 percent improvement in uniform explosive expansion radius for electroformed and spun copper armatures compared to standard armatures machined from drawn tubing. Expansion improvement was correlated with changes in the mechanical texture due to forming. The smoother expansion, however, did not result in a significantly higher electrical efficiency with the armature parameters tested.