Internally Oxidized Nb₃Sn Strands with Fine Grain Size and High Critical Current Density

Abstract

Nb3Sn strands fabricated using Nb-Zr alloy can be internally oxidized, provided that oxygen is properly supplied via an oxide powder. This allows the formation of fine intragranular and intergranular ZrO2 particles in a Nb3Sn matrix. These particles can refine the grain size by a factor of three and thereby greatly enhance the Nb3Sn critical current density.