skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Critical current and upper critical field of multifilament Nb/sub 3-x/Ta/sub x/Sn superconductor

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.334013· OSTI ID:7057465

Superconductive wires containing 78 filaments of Nb/sub 3-x/Ta/sub x/Sn for 4--16 at. % Ta were produced using the external bronze process to yield a composite with an overall composition 21.4 wt. % Nb--Ta, 64.9 wt. % Cu, and 13.6 wt. % Sn. Reaction periods of 20 to 260 h at temperatures from 650 to 735 /sup 0/C were used. Critical-current densities over the entire wire cross section were 5 x 10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 14 T and 1 x 10/sup 4/ at 19.7 T, the measured H/sub c/2 was 27 T at 4.2 K for wires with 8 ..mu..m filaments containing approximately 4 at. % Ta. Single filament wires using a 13 wt. % bronze matrix were fabricated to determine the effect of Ta on reaction kinetics. The A15 layer thickness was approximately proportional to the square root of the reaction time and independent of tantalum concentration. The critical-current densities are discussed in terms of A15 grain structure, stoichiometry, filament uniformity, and H/sub c/2 enhancement.

Research Organization:
Intermagnetics General Corporation, Charles Industrial Park, Guilderland, New York 12084
OSTI ID:
7057465
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 56:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English