Abstract: A method for manufacturing a superconductor is described. A metal assembly precursor can be formed within a hollow copper support element. Forming the metal assembly precursor within a hollow copper support element by positioning a plurality of conductor elements about a core including Sn to provide a first plurality of inner interstitial spaces between the plurality of conductor elements between the core and conductor elements and a second plurality of outer interstitial spaces between the hollow copper support element and the core, the plurality of conductor elements including unreacted Nb. The metal assembly precursor can be reduced via cold drawing to produce a reduced metal assembly. The reduced metal assembly can be reaction heat treated so that the unreacted Nb undergoes a phase transformation to a reacted superconductor.

Abstract: A metal assembly (1) suitable for being wound into a coil and used in DC magnet applications. The metal assembly comprises an insulated superconductive wire (2) extending in a longitudinal direction. The insulated superconductive wire comprises a superconductive wire (4), comprising a material (5) that exhibits superconducting properties within a defined temperature range embedded in a metal matrix (6), and an electrically insulating layer (7) arranged as a coating on the superconductive wire. The metal assembly further comprises a thermal conduction element (3) comprising a thermally conductive material arranged as a layer at least partly surrounding the insulated superconductive wire, such that the metal assembly, when wound into a coil, exhibits isotropic or essentially isotropic thermal conduction properties.

Abstract: A metal assembly (1) suitable for being wound into a coil and used in DC magnet applications. The metal assembly comprises an insulated superconductive wire (2) extending in a longitudinal direction. The insulated superconductive wire comprises a superconductive wire (4), comprising a material (5) that exhibits superconducting properties within a defined temperature range embedded in a metal matrix (6), and an electrically insulating layer (7) arranged as a coating on the superconductive wire. The metal assembly further comprises a thermal conduction element (3) comprising a thermally conductive material arranged as a layer at least partly surrounding the insulated superconductive wire, such that the metal assembly, when wound into a coil, exhibits isotropic or essentially isotropic thermal conduction properties.

Abstract: An oxygen-free copper alloy comprising oxygen-free copper and, micro-alloyed therein, about 1-250 ppm tin (Sn) and/or about 1-150 ppm manganese (Mn). The invention also relates to the use of said copper alloy.

Abstract: A location scale and an optical reading sensor for reading the location scale. The location scale comprises bars with a first edge and a second edge, wherein either the first edges or the second edges are located at regular intervals to form an incremental scale. To provide both incremental data and absolute data on the same scale, the bars are of at least two different widths, and any n successive bars on the scale form a unique individual code indicating the absolute location of those n bars on the scale.