First steps towards cube textured nickel profile wires for YBCO-coated conductors

► The cube texture as a typical sheet texture can also be formed by cold drawing and recrystallization in profile wires. ► Cube textured Ni profile wires containing up to 96.2% cube oriented grains in the central region were obtained. ► Forthcoming investigations are promising to get a textured substrate wire for YBCO-coated conductors. Cube textured nickel alloy tapes prepared by cold rolling and annealing (RABiTS method) represent a standard metallic substrate for superconductor coatings of the YBa 2Cu 3O 7− δ (YBCO) type. These tapes have a width to thickness ratio of about 30–100. However, a value of close to one is optimal concerning low energetic losses under alternating current applications. First experiments on micro-alloyed nickel prove that the cube texture as a typical sheet texture can also be formed in profile wires with a rectangular cross-section after cold drawing and recrystallization treatment.