Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh

Stephen Gauss

Rene Flukiger

The present invention relates to a method for producing multifilament superconductive wires of Nb.sub.3 Sn or V.sub.3 Ga filaments embedded in a Cu or Cu alloy matrix, with the wires containing metal additive elements from the group including Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Fe, Co, Ni in the filaments and/or in the matrix. The superconductive characteristics of the wires are predetermined for medium magnetic fields (below 12 T) as well as for high magnetic fields (12 T and above). The percentage of the additive (or additives) can be set to a predetermined value and thus the superconductive properties can be set as desired. This is accomplished by mixing metal additives in powder form with a powder of niobium or a niobium alloy, or of vanadium or a vanadium alloy, in a defined grain size and in a defined quantity. The resulting powder mixture is compacted in a container of copper or a copper alloy, the compacted container is shaped into a wire and, upon removal of the container layer, is processed further into wires. Depending on the desired superconductive properties, the final reaction heat treatment of the wires is performed at a selected temperature in a range from 500.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. and at a selected heat treatment duration in a range from 48 to 300 hours.

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Stuttgart, Germany

Stephen Gauss