Effect of transverse stress on the critical current of bronze-process and internal-tin Nb sub 3 Sn

Journal Article · Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.348372· OSTI ID:5533205

Ekin, J W; Bray, S L; Bahn, W L ^[1]

---

1. Electromagnetic Technology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80303 (US)

The effect of transverse stress on the critical current of two substantially different Nb{sub 3}Sn superconductors, a bronze-process conductor and an internal-tin conductor, has been measured. Photomicrographs of the two conductors reveal a basic difference in their microstructure. The bronze-process conductor exhibits columnar grains that are radially oriented within the Nb{sub 3}Sn filaments, while the grains of the internal-tin conductor are more equiaxed and randomly oriented. The radial orientation of the bronze-process grains defines an anisotropy between the axial and transverse directions that might account for the greater sensitivity of the critical current to transverse stress reported previously. The effect of transverse stress measured on the internal-tin conductor, however, is comparable to that of the bronze-process conductor. Thus, these data indicate that the transverse stress effect is not highly dependent on either grain morphology or fabrication process. From an engineering standpoint the similarity of the transverse stress effect for these two types of Nb{sub 3}Sn superconductors represents an important simplification for setting first-order quantitative limits on the mechanical design of large superconducting magnets.

• DOE Contract Number: AI01-84ER52113
• OSTI ID: 5533205
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 69:8; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOYS
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETS
EQUIPMENT
GRAIN ORIENTATION
MAGNETS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
ORIENTATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TIN ALLOYS