Neutron irradiation of Nb/sub 3/Sn and NbTi multifilamentary composites
NbTi and Nb/sub 3/Sn multifilamentary composites were irradiated with fast neutrons at 60 +- 5/sup 0/C to fluences of 1.2 x 10/sup 20/ n/cm/sup 2/ (E greater than 1 MeV). The NbTi samples show only a moderate reduction of I/sub c/ as a function of neutron fluence in an applied field of 40 kG. Reductions in I/sub c/ were observed for fluences greater than 3 x 10/sup 17/ n/cm/sup 2/ and saturate at 18 percent for fluences greater than 3-4 x 10/sup 19/ n/cm/sup 2/. The Nb/sub 3/Sn composites showed large neutron radiation-induced changes in T/sub c/, I/sub c/, and H/sub c2/. Reductions in T/sub c/ were observed for fluences greater than 7 x 10/sup 17/ n/cm/sup 2/. No measurable changes in I/sub c/(40 kG) were observed below 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/. Between 2 and 3 x 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/, however, there is an apparent threshold where a very rapid reduction in I/sub c/(40 kG) is initiated. At the threshold the decrease in T/sub c/ is 13 percent. Between the threshold and 1.1 x 10/sup 19/ n/cm/sup 2/, I/sub c/(40 kG) was reduced to 4 percent of the unirradiated value. These changes in superconducting properties in NbTi and Nb/sub 3/Sn are analyzed in terms of the radiation-induced defects. The impact of the response to irradiation of both materials on their applications in fusion reactor magnets is discussed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-17856
- OSTI ID:
- 7199752
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Trans. Magn.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Magn.; (United States) Vol. MAG-11:2; ISSN IEMGA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
656102 -- Solid State Physics-- Superconductivity-- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
& Thermal Phenomena-- (-1987)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALLOYS
BARYONS
BEAMS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRITICAL FIELD
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
FILAMENTS
HADRONS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NIOBIUM BASE ALLOYS
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TIN ALLOYS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE