Current-Sharing Between Filaments and Voltage – Current Characteristics of Copper-Plated Multifilament Coated Conductors

The effect of copper plating on current sharing between filaments was studied in a multifilament coated conductor. We prepared a 4 mm-wide, 5-filament coated conductor, in which 20 μm-thick copper connecting filaments electrically in order to allow current detouring the local normal section (an intrinsic defect or a normal transiting part) of a filament. A system of voltage taps were attached on both edges of 4 mm-wide sample, and the transverse voltages across the width of the sample as well as the longitudinal voltages along the length of the sample were measured, when the current fed to the sample was ramped up. We examined the local current sharing between filaments through copper by using measured longitudinal and transverse voltages at various locations. We also discussed the influence of the current sharing on the electric field – current characteristics of the copper-plated multifilament coated conductor.