A 48% increase in worldwide energy demand is expected by 2040, which will require expansion of electrical power transmission infrastructure. 1 Expanded long-distance transmission grids in China, the United States, and elsewhere are expected to make greater use of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, the preferred technology for long distances.2 Conventional aluminum- conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) cables are not well suited for HVDC transmission due to the presence of the heavy, poorly conducting steel core needed for strength and sag-resistance. Al/Ca composite conductors with monolithic construction produced by powder metallurgy and deformation processing have shown promise as a possible next-generation conductor for this application.