Improvements in current-carrying capacities of Nb<inf>3</inf>Sn composites in high fields through titanium addition to the matrix

Abstract

Single-core and multifilamentary Nb <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</inf> Sn composites with titanium addition to the matrix have been fabricated. The electron-probe microanalysis indicates that the titanium is more rapidly incorporated into the Nb <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</inf> Sn layer from the matrix than from the core. The titanium addition of less than 1.5 at.% to the matrix does not deteriorate the workability of the Nb <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</inf> Sn composites. The titanium addition to the matrix remarkably increases the growth rate and J <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">c</inf> in high fields of the Nb <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</inf> Sn layer. The optimum amount of titanium addition to the matrix to produce the highest overall J <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">c</inf> at 16 T was found to be about 0.8 at.% for the 160-core Nb/Cu-7at.%Sn-Ti composite wires. The simultaneous titanium addition to the core and to the matrix produces further improvement in J <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">c</inf> in high magnetic fields. An overall J <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">c</inf> of about 2.7×10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> A/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at 16 T is obtained for the 370-core Nb-1.5at.%Ti/Cu-8at.%Sn-0.5at.%Ti composite wire reacted at 700°C for 200 h.