US3868769A - Method of making superconductors - Google Patents
Method of making superconductors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3868769A US3868769A US396794A US39679473A US3868769A US 3868769 A US3868769 A US 3868769A US 396794 A US396794 A US 396794A US 39679473 A US39679473 A US 39679473A US 3868769 A US3868769 A US 3868769A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- jacket
- product
- core
- wiredrawn
- transposed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000002887 superconductor Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 42
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000005491 wire drawing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000011162 core material Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000906 Bronze Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000570 Cupronickel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010974 bronze Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- YOCUPQPZWBBYIX-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper nickel Chemical compound [Ni].[Cu] YOCUPQPZWBBYIX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper tin Chemical compound [Cu].[Sn] KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000657 niobium-tin Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000999 vanadium-gallium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010955 niobium Substances 0.000 description 19
- 229910052758 niobium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 12
- GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N niobium atom Chemical compound [Nb] GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- KJSMVPYGGLPWOE-UHFFFAOYSA-N niobium tin Chemical group [Nb].[Sn] KJSMVPYGGLPWOE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000007669 thermal treatment Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910052720 vanadium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910052715 tantalum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N tantalum atom Chemical compound [Ta] GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 2
- LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium atom Chemical compound [V] LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910001128 Sn alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036244 malformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K20/00—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating
- B23K20/22—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded
- B23K20/233—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded without ferrous layer
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
- H01B12/00—Superconductive or hyperconductive conductors, cables, or transmission lines
- H01B12/02—Superconductive or hyperconductive conductors, cables, or transmission lines characterised by their form
- H01B12/10—Multi-filaments embedded in normal conductors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N60/00—Superconducting devices
- H10N60/01—Manufacture or treatment
- H10N60/0184—Manufacture or treatment of devices comprising intermetallic compounds of type A-15, e.g. Nb3Sn
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E40/00—Technologies for an efficient electrical power generation, transmission or distribution
- Y02E40/60—Superconducting electric elements or equipment; Power systems integrating superconducting elements or equipment
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S505/00—Superconductor technology: apparatus, material, process
- Y10S505/825—Apparatus per se, device per se, or process of making or operating same
- Y10S505/917—Mechanically manufacturing superconductor
- Y10S505/918—Mechanically manufacturing superconductor with metallurgical heat treating
- Y10S505/919—Reactive formation of superconducting intermetallic compound
- Y10S505/921—Metal working prior to treating
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
- Y10T29/49014—Superconductor
Definitions
- a method of making stabilized superconductors of an intermetallic composition crystallizing according to the A 15 structure includes the following steps: forming a stock product comprising a core made of the elements of the superconductive composition and a jacket of good heat and electrical conductivity, wiredrawing the stock product to obtain a wiredrawn product in which the jacket is in close engagement with the multielement core and submitting the wiredrawn product to a heat treatment to transform the multielement core into a superconductor.
- This invention relates to an improved method of making stabilized superconductors as well as to superconductors resulting from such method.
- the invention is particularly concerned with a method of making stabilizied superconductors of materials which crystallize according to the tungsten B-type structure, that is, an A crystalline structure as designated in the international crystallographic classification.
- Superconductors are frequently used in solenoids of the type that are adapted to generate magnetic fields of high intensity. If, by accident. even a small portion of the superconductor momentarily loses its superconductive properties, a larger electric resistance results. As the high intensity current passes through such increased resistance, substantial energy is releasedwith destructive effects. For the purpose of reducing this danger, it has been known to stabilize" the superconductors. Such stabilization consists in juxtapositioning the superconductor to a non-superconductor support of very goodheat and electrical conductivity and to effect a close thermal contact therebetween.
- Known stabilized superconductors made of intermetallic compositions and crystallizing according to the structure A l5, such as Nb Sn, Nb Al, Nb Au, V Sn, V Ga, Ta Sn, etc. are often expensive or are not capable of providing a good stability of the desired degree.
- the cause of these disadvantages is to be found mainly in the present methods of manufacturing, particularly those which have not permitted either to economically utilize expensive elements such as niobium, vanadium and tantalum or to provide a uniform stabilizing layer which surrounds the superconductor.
- superconductors provided with a stabilizing jacket made of niobium, vanadium or tantalum are often very expensive.
- the stabilizing jackets made, for'example, by means of electrolytic deposition.
- superconductors such as Nb Sn
- the niobium stabilizing jacket is constituted by that part of the niobium body which has not been affected by the diffusion-reaction treatment during the known in-place formation of the intermetallic composition of the superconductor Nb Sn. It is known that the existence or absence of said niobium jacket depends upon the duration and the temperature of the aforenoted diffusion-reaction treatment.
- the last-named superconductors are disadvantageous in that they have a substantial anisotropy, a poor stabilization with respect to strong flux fluctuations and further, the conductors cannot be transposed.
- an improved method which comprises the steps of forming a stock product comprising a core made of coaxially arranged constituent elements of an intermetallic superconductor composition and an external jacket made ofa ductile material having good electrical and thermal conductivity, wiredrawing the stock product to obtain a wiredrawn product in which the jacket is in close engagement with the core and submitting the wiredrawn product to a heat treatment causing an inplace diffusionfreaction of the core elements to transform the latter into an intermetallic superconductive composition.
- FIG.'1 is a fragmentary perspective schematic view of a stock product resulting from a step of the method according to the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective schematic view of a different stock product resulting from a step of the method according to the invention
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic incomplete view of 'a multifilstock product formed of stock products shown in FIGS, 1 or 2 and resulting from a step of the method according to the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic incomplete view of a wiredrawn product resulting from a wiredrawing step performed on the stock product shown in FIG. 3.
- a stock product comprising a niobium-tin core and a jacket of ductile material having good thermal and electric conductivity.
- niobium and tin are arranged coaxially with respect to one another and are surrounded by a jacket made, for example, of a material such as copper, nickel, bronze, brass, aluminum, tin alloys, a copper-nickel alloy, non-oxidizable steel or any other material or alloy that may serve as an economic stabilizer for the superconductor.
- a stock product 1 made of a tinned niobium wire core 2 surrounded by a jacket 3 which is formed of a copper tube or a copper sheet rolled into a tube.
- a stock product 4 is formed of a niobium tube 5 (or a niobium sheet rolled into a tube) which is filled with tin or contains a tinwire 6 and a copper jacket 7 formed of a tube or a sheet rolled into a tube and surrounding the core 5, 6.
- the stock product 1 or 4 is subsequently submitted, according to the invention, to a wiredrawing step to provide a close contact between the copper jacket and the tin-niobium core and to obtain, as a result of this step, a compact wiredrawn product (not shown) having the desired diameter.
- the element may subsequently be submitted to an optional rolling operation to transform the same into a compact rolled ribbon.
- the method according to the invention may be practiced in the manufacture of any kind of superconductor having a base material of intermetallic composition that, crystallizes according to the crystalline structure A 15, such as Nb Au, Nb Al, Nb AlGe, Nb Sn, Nb Ga, V Ga, V Sn, Ta Au, Ta Sn, etc.
- the thermal treatment comprises in general a heating ofthe product for a duration of from minutes to 20 hours at a-temperature of 600 -1300 C or, preferably, for a duration of from l0 minutes to hours at a temperature of 800 l(l0() C.
- the thermal treatment transforms the niobium-tin core into an Nb Sn monofil superconductor.
- stabilized multifil superconductors may be made from a stock product as shown in FIGS.,1 and 2.
- a plu rality of stock products l or 4 or wiredrawn products resulting therefrom are first assembled into a copper jacket 9 to form a multifil stock product 8 as shown in an incomplete manner in FIG. 3.
- the individual components may be disposed parallel to the axis of the assembly or may extend helically thereabout to form twisted strands.
- the multifil stock product 8 is thereafter submitted to a wiredrawing operation to obtain a wiredrawn product 10 (FIG.
- the wiredrawn product 10, or the ribbonlike article. as the case may be, is submitted to a conventional thermal treatment to effect diffusionwith supports and thereafter be shaped into the desired dimensions. They may also be submitted to transposing operations which consist of giving the axis of the cores a certain inclination with respect to the axis of the finished superconductor. All these operations, however, have to be effected prior to their submission to the thermal diffusion-reaction treatment which transforms the multielement cores into superconductive cores.
- the wiredrawn product resulting from the stock product 1, 4 or 8 may be treated thermally to transform it into a superconductor immediately after a wiredrawing or an optional rolling operation.
- transposed multifil stock product having, as its interior element, a plurality of said wiredrawn monofil products and, as its exterior element, a secondjacket surrounding said interior element, said second jacket being made of ductile material having good heat and electric conductivity,
- the materials of said cores are selected from elements of the intermetallic superconductive composition group consisting of Nb Sn,' Nb Au, Nb Al, Nb AlGe, Nb Ga, V Sn, V Ga, Ta Sn, Ta Au, Ta Al, Ta Ga.
- a method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said first and second jackets is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, bronze, brass, copper-nickel alloy and non-oxidizable steel.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
A method of making stabilized superconductors of an intermetallic composition crystallizing according to the A 15 structure, includes the following steps: forming a stock product comprising a core made of the elements of the superconductive composition and a jacket of good heat and electrical conductivity, wiredrawing the stock product to obtain a wiredrawn product in which the jacket is in close engagement with the multielement core and submitting the wiredrawn product to a heat treatment to transform the multielement core into a superconductor.
Description
United States Patent [1 1 Dosdat et a1.
[ METHOD OF MAKING,"
SUPERCONDUCTORS [75] Inventors: Jean Dosdat; Jacques Lanthlez;
Claude Levaire, all of Chauny, France [73] Assignee: Comp agnie F rancaise Thomson Houston-Hotchkiss Brandt, Paris, France [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,794
Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 216,525, Jan. 10. 19 72.
abandoned.
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 8. 1971 France r. 71.00518 [52] U.S. Cl 29/599, 174/DIG. 6 [51] Int. Cl H0lv ll/08 [58] Field of Search 29/599; 174/DIG. 6
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.218693 11/1965 Allen l74/D1G. 6 X 3.472.944 10/1969 Morton i. 174/DIG. 6 X
[4 1 Mar. 4, 1975 3.548.351 12/1970 Fairbanks 174/D1G. 6 X 3.699.647 10/1972 Bidault 29/599 3,708,606 1/1973 Shattes 174/DlG. 6 X
OTHER PUBLICATIONS Smith Superconducting synchrotrons, in Proceedings of the 1968 Summer Study on Superconducting Devices & Accelerators Part 111 Brookhaven Nat. Lab 6-10, 7-19, 1968, pp. 967-980.
Critchlow et al., Multifilamentary Superconducting Composites in Cryogenics, 2-7], pp. 3-10.
Primary Examiner-E. A. Goldberg Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Edwin E. Greigg 57 ABSTRACT A method of making stabilized superconductors of an intermetallic composition crystallizing according to the A 15 structure, includes the following steps: forming a stock product comprising a core made of the elements of the superconductive composition and a jacket of good heat and electrical conductivity, wiredrawing the stock product to obtain a wiredrawn product in which the jacket is in close engagement with the multielement core and submitting the wiredrawn product to a heat treatment to transform the multielement core into a superconductor.
4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 216,525, filed Jan. 10, 1972, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved method of making stabilized superconductors as well as to superconductors resulting from such method. The invention is particularly concerned with a method of making stabilizied superconductors of materials which crystallize according to the tungsten B-type structure, that is, an A crystalline structure as designated in the international crystallographic classification.
Superconductors are frequently used in solenoids of the type that are adapted to generate magnetic fields of high intensity. If, by accident. even a small portion of the superconductor momentarily loses its superconductive properties, a larger electric resistance results. As the high intensity current passes through such increased resistance, substantial energy is releasedwith destructive effects. For the purpose of reducing this danger, it has been known to stabilize" the superconductors. Such stabilization consists in juxtapositioning the superconductor to a non-superconductor support of very goodheat and electrical conductivity and to effect a close thermal contact therebetween. In case there is an accidental transition from .a superconductive state to a normal state in one portion of the stabilized superconductor, the, high intensity current in the superconductor is diverted into the support surrounding the superconductor, and as a result, the temperatures generated are usually small. Since the density of the electric current has diminished in the aforenamed portion of the superconductor, this portion is capable to recover more easily its superconductive properties.
Known stabilized superconductors made of intermetallic compositions and crystallizing according to the structure A l5, such as Nb Sn, Nb Al, Nb Au, V Sn, V Ga, Ta Sn, etc. are often expensive or are not capable of providing a good stability of the desired degree. The cause of these disadvantages is to be found mainly in the present methods of manufacturing, particularly those which have not permitted either to economically utilize expensive elements such as niobium, vanadium and tantalum or to provide a uniform stabilizing layer which surrounds the superconductor. Thus, superconductors provided with a stabilizing jacket made of niobium, vanadium or tantalum are often very expensive. On the other hand, there may often be found a malformation of the stabilizing jackets made, for'example, by means of electrolytic deposition. The same disadvantages may be found in superconductors such as Nb Sn, in which the niobium stabilizing jacket is constituted by that part of the niobium body which has not been affected by the diffusion-reaction treatment during the known in-place formation of the intermetallic composition of the superconductor Nb Sn. It is known that the existence or absence of said niobium jacket depends upon the duration and the temperature of the aforenoted diffusion-reaction treatment.
Furthermore, the last-named superconductors are disadvantageous in that they have a substantial anisotropy, a poor stabilization with respect to strong flux fluctuations and further, the conductors cannot be transposed.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved manufacture of stabilized monoor multifil superconductors, particularly those made of a base material that crystallizes accordingto a crystalline structure of A 15 for obtaining stabilized superconductors in an economic manner and without the disadvantages discussed above.
Briefly stated, according to the invention there is provided an improved method which comprises the steps of forming a stock product comprising a core made of coaxially arranged constituent elements of an intermetallic superconductor composition and an external jacket made ofa ductile material having good electrical and thermal conductivity, wiredrawing the stock product to obtain a wiredrawn product in which the jacket is in close engagement with the core and submitting the wiredrawn product to a heat treatment causing an inplace diffusionfreaction of the core elements to transform the latter into an intermetallic superconductive composition.
The invention will be better understood, as well as further objects and advantages will become more apparent, from the ensuing detailed specification of several exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FlG.'1 is a fragmentary perspective schematic view of a stock product resulting from a step of the method according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective schematic view of a different stock product resulting from a step of the method according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic incomplete view of 'a multifilstock product formed of stock products shown in FIGS, 1 or 2 and resulting from a step of the method according to the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic incomplete view of a wiredrawn product resulting from a wiredrawing step performed on the stock product shown in FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS As a first step of the method according to the invention for making, for example, a stabilized monofil Nb Sn superconductor, there is formed a stock product comprising a niobium-tin core and a jacket of ductile material having good thermal and electric conductivity. For this purpose, niobium and tin are arranged coaxially with respect to one another and are surrounded by a jacket made, for example, of a material such as copper, nickel, bronze, brass, aluminum, tin alloys, a copper-nickel alloy, non-oxidizable steel or any other material or alloy that may serve as an economic stabilizer for the superconductor.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, there is shown a stock product 1 made of a tinned niobium wire core 2 surrounded by a jacket 3 which is formed of a copper tube or a copper sheet rolled into a tube.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, a stock product 4 is formed of a niobium tube 5 (or a niobium sheet rolled into a tube) which is filled with tin or contains a tinwire 6 and a copper jacket 7 formed of a tube or a sheet rolled into a tube and surrounding the core 5, 6.
The stock product 1 or 4 is subsequently submitted, according to the invention, to a wiredrawing step to provide a close contact between the copper jacket and the tin-niobium core and to obtain, as a result of this step, a compact wiredrawn product (not shown) having the desired diameter. The element may subsequently be submitted to an optional rolling operation to transform the same into a compact rolled ribbon.
I The mutual coaxial disposition of the base materials (niobium-tin) in a stabilizing jacket (copper) makes possible to achievea high degree of structural uniformity of the wiredrawn product from which there is obtained, as a result of a thermal treatment to be described hereinafter, a stabilized superconductor having excellent characteristics. By providing, according to the invention, a stabilizing jacket of an economical ductile material (ratherthan niobium, tantalum or the like) which has good electrical and thermal conductivity, the disadvantages discussed in the introductory part of this specification are avoided.
ltvis noted that the method according to the invention may be practiced in the manufacture of any kind of superconductor having a base material of intermetallic composition that, crystallizes according to the crystalline structure A 15, such as Nb Au, Nb Al, Nb AlGe, Nb Sn, Nb Ga, V Ga, V Sn, Ta Au, Ta Sn, etc.
Subsequent to the wiredrawing operation and the optional rolling operation, the'product is submitted to a thermal treatment which is known by itself and which, by a diffusion-reaction process effects an in-place conversion of the core elements into an intermetallic superconductive composition. Dependent upon the na ture ofthe A 15 composition to be formed, the thermal treatment comprises in general a heating ofthe product for a duration of from minutes to 20 hours at a-temperature of 600 -1300 C or, preferably, for a duration of from l0 minutes to hours at a temperature of 800 l(l0() C.
Thus, in the example described hereinabove, the thermal treatment transforms the niobium-tin core into an Nb Sn monofil superconductor.
According to the invention, stabilized multifil superconductors may be made from a stock product as shown in FIGS.,1 and 2. In the manufacture of multifil superconductors of the Nb Sn type, for example, a plu rality of stock products l or 4 or wiredrawn products resulting therefrom are first assembled into a copper jacket 9 to form a multifil stock product 8 as shown in an incomplete manner in FIG. 3. The individual components (stock products or wiredrawn products) may be disposed parallel to the axis of the assembly or may extend helically thereabout to form twisted strands. The multifil stock product 8 is thereafter submitted to a wiredrawing operation to obtain a wiredrawn product 10 (FIG. 4) which is a-compact assembly wherein a close contact exists between each individual jacket 3 or 7 and the niobium-tin core 2 or 5, 6 surrounded thereby and between the individual jackets and the jacket 9. In fact, subsequent to the wiredrawing operation, in the wiredrawn product 10 which has the desired diameter, the individual jackets and the jacket 9 form a homogeneous mass 11 in which the niobium-tin cores are embedded. The wiredrawn product 10 may be subsequently submitted to an optional rolling operation to transform it into a ribbon-like article of desired dimensions (not shown).
Thereafter the wiredrawn product 10, or the ribbonlike article. as the case may be, is submitted to a conventional thermal treatment to effect diffusionwith supports and thereafter be shaped into the desired dimensions. They may also be submitted to transposing operations which consist of giving the axis of the cores a certain inclination with respect to the axis of the finished superconductor. All these operations, however, have to be effected prior to their submission to the thermal diffusion-reaction treatment which transforms the multielement cores into superconductive cores.
According to the invention, the wiredrawn product resulting from the stock product 1, 4 or 8 may be treated thermally to transform it into a superconductor immediately after a wiredrawing or an optional rolling operation.
That which is claimed is:
l. A' method of making astabilized transposed mulcomprising one element of the intermetallic superconductor composition to be obtained, said core being coated with another element of said composition, and a first jacket surroundingsaid core, said first jacket being made of a ductile material having good heat and electric conductivity,
B. wiredrawing said monofil stock product to a desired diameter to obtain a wiredrawn monofil product wherein said jacket is in close engagement with said core,
C. forming a transposed multifil stock product having, as its interior element, a plurality of said wiredrawn monofil products and, as its exterior element, a secondjacket surrounding said interior element, said second jacket being made of ductile material having good heat and electric conductivity,
D. wiredrawing said transposed multifil stock product to a desired diameter to obtain a wiredrawn transposed multiful product wherein said first and second jackets form a homogeneous mass serving as a stabilizing jacket for the transposed multiful superconductor to be obtained and in which the cores are individually embedded, and
E. submitting said wiredrawn transposed multiful product to a heat treatment of a duration of from 5 minutes to 20 hours at a temperature between 600 C and 1300 C to effect an in-place diffusion reaction of the core material for transforming the latter into said intermetallic superconductive composition.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the materials of said cores are selected from elements of the intermetallic superconductive composition group consisting of Nb Sn,' Nb Au, Nb Al, Nb AlGe, Nb Ga, V Sn, V Ga, Ta Sn, Ta Au, Ta Al, Ta Ga.
3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said first and second jackets is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, bronze, brass, copper-nickel alloy and non-oxidizable steel.
4 A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first jacket is made of a material identical to that of said second jacket.
Claims (4)
1. A method of making a stabilized transposed multifil superconductor made of an intermetallic superconductor composition crystallizing according to the crystalline structure A 15, comprising the following steps: A. forming a monofil stock product having a core comprising one element of the intermetallic superconductor composition to be obtained, said core being coated with another element of said composition, and a first jacket surrounding said core, said first jacket being made of a ductile material having good heat and electric conductivity, B. wiredrawing said monofil stock product to a desired diameter to obtain a wiredrawn monofil product wherein said jacket is in close engagement with said core, C. forming a transposed multifil stock product having, as its interior element, a plurality of said wiredrawn monofil products and, as its exterior element, a second jacket surrounding said interior element, said second jacket being made of ductile material having good heat and electric conductivity, D. wiredrawing said transposed multifil stock product to a desired diameter to obtain a wiredrawn transposed multiful product wherein said first and second jackets form a homogeneous mass serving as a stabilizing jacket for the transposed multiful superconductor to be obtained and in which the cores are individually embedded, and E. submitting said wiredrawn transposed multiful product to a heat treatment of a duration of from 5 minutes to 20 hours at a temperature between 600* C and 1300* C to effect an in-place diffusion reaction of the core material for transforming the latter into said intermetallic superconductive composition.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the materials of said cores are selected from elements of the intermetallic superconductive composition group consisting of Nb3Sn, Nb3Au, Nb3Al, Nb3AlGe, Nb3Ga, V3Sn, V3Ga, Ta3Sn, Ta3Au, Ta3Al, Ta3Ga.
3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said first and second jackets is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, bronze, brass, copper-nickel alloy and non-oxidizable steel.
4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first jacket is made of a material identical to that of said second jacket.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US396794A US3868769A (en) | 1971-01-08 | 1973-09-13 | Method of making superconductors |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR7100518A FR2120563A5 (en) | 1971-01-08 | 1971-01-08 | Stabilised superconductor prodn - from composite cylindrical bodies comprising base materials and stabiliser |
US21652572A | 1972-01-10 | 1972-01-10 | |
US396794A US3868769A (en) | 1971-01-08 | 1973-09-13 | Method of making superconductors |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3868769A true US3868769A (en) | 1975-03-04 |
Family
ID=27249465
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US396794A Expired - Lifetime US3868769A (en) | 1971-01-08 | 1973-09-13 | Method of making superconductors |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3868769A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4003762A (en) * | 1974-03-22 | 1977-01-18 | Sergio Ceresara | Process for the production of superconductor wires or cables of Nb3 Al and superconductor wires or cables obtained thereby |
US4665611A (en) * | 1985-01-18 | 1987-05-19 | Fujikura Ltd. | Method of fabricating superconductive electrical conductor |
US20150262726A1 (en) * | 2014-03-12 | 2015-09-17 | Merry Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. | Graphene conducting wire and method of making the same |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3218693A (en) * | 1962-07-03 | 1965-11-23 | Nat Res Corp | Process of making niobium stannide superconductors |
US3472944A (en) * | 1966-05-20 | 1969-10-14 | Imp Metal Ind Kynoch Ltd | Assemblies of superconductor elements |
US3548351A (en) * | 1967-03-06 | 1970-12-15 | Nat Res Corp | Composite-strip-conductor containing niobium-titanium superconductor |
US3699647A (en) * | 1969-07-18 | 1972-10-24 | Thomson Houston Comp Francaise | Method of manufacturing long length composite superconductors |
US3708606A (en) * | 1970-05-13 | 1973-01-02 | Air Reduction | Cryogenic system including variations of hollow superconducting wire |
-
1973
- 1973-09-13 US US396794A patent/US3868769A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3218693A (en) * | 1962-07-03 | 1965-11-23 | Nat Res Corp | Process of making niobium stannide superconductors |
US3472944A (en) * | 1966-05-20 | 1969-10-14 | Imp Metal Ind Kynoch Ltd | Assemblies of superconductor elements |
US3548351A (en) * | 1967-03-06 | 1970-12-15 | Nat Res Corp | Composite-strip-conductor containing niobium-titanium superconductor |
US3699647A (en) * | 1969-07-18 | 1972-10-24 | Thomson Houston Comp Francaise | Method of manufacturing long length composite superconductors |
US3708606A (en) * | 1970-05-13 | 1973-01-02 | Air Reduction | Cryogenic system including variations of hollow superconducting wire |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4003762A (en) * | 1974-03-22 | 1977-01-18 | Sergio Ceresara | Process for the production of superconductor wires or cables of Nb3 Al and superconductor wires or cables obtained thereby |
US4665611A (en) * | 1985-01-18 | 1987-05-19 | Fujikura Ltd. | Method of fabricating superconductive electrical conductor |
US20150262726A1 (en) * | 2014-03-12 | 2015-09-17 | Merry Electronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. | Graphene conducting wire and method of making the same |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3465430A (en) | Method of making superconductor stock | |
US3728165A (en) | Method of fabricating a composite superconductor | |
US3625662A (en) | Superconductor | |
US3623221A (en) | Method of fabricating a tubular superconductor assembly | |
DE1665554C3 (en) | Cable-shaped superconductor | |
US3370347A (en) | Method of making superconductor wires | |
US3429032A (en) | Method of making superconductors containing flux traps | |
US3731374A (en) | Method of fabricating a hard intermetallic superconductor by means of diffusion | |
US4224087A (en) | Method for producing Nb3 Sn superconductor | |
US3838503A (en) | Method of fabricating a composite multifilament intermetallic type superconducting wire | |
US4161062A (en) | Method for producing hollow superconducting cables | |
JPH0377609B2 (en) | ||
US3743986A (en) | Improved resistive envelope for a multifilament superconductor wire | |
US4917965A (en) | Multifilament Nb3 Al superconducting linear composite articles | |
US4743713A (en) | Aluminum-stabilized NB3SN superconductor | |
US4043028A (en) | Method of fabricating composite superconductors | |
US3730967A (en) | Cryogenic system including hybrid superconductors | |
US4363675A (en) | Process for producing compound based superconductor wire | |
US3836404A (en) | Method of fabricating composite superconductive electrical conductors | |
US5554448A (en) | Wire for Nb3 X superconducting wire | |
US3868769A (en) | Method of making superconductors | |
US4084989A (en) | Method for producing a stabilized electrical superconductor | |
US6932874B2 (en) | Method for increasing the copper to superconductor ratio in a superconductor wire | |
Dietderich et al. | The critical current density and microstructural state of an internal tin multifilamentary superconducting wire | |
US3465429A (en) | Superconductors |