Abstract: A powder and rod process for forming Nb3Sn or V3Ga superconducting wire is provided. The process includes hot extrusion or cold drawing of an assembly comprising an octagonal or hexagonal configuration of copper-clad rods comprising niobium, vanadium, a niobium alloy, or a vanadium alloy and an intermetallic powder compound, such as MnSn2, that is situated in a central hole within the octagonal or hexagonal configuration of rods.
Abstract: A method for forming Nb3Sn superconducting wire is provided. The method employs a powder-in-tube process using a high-tin intermetallic compound, such as MnSn2, for producing the Nb3Sn. The use of a high-tin intermetallic compound enables the process to perform hot extrusion without melting the high-tin intermetallic compound. Alternatively, the method may entail drawing the wire without hot extrusion.
Abstract: A method for forming improved superconducting composites having improved Jc values by assembling octagonal or curved octagonal elements which when assembled allow for formation of uniformly continuously spaced voids. The voids are then filled with a metal, alloy, intermetallic substance, or ceramic oxide. The assembly of the octagonal elements and the filling of the voids is performed in a metal can. Accordingly, the flexibility in design of the present invention allows control of the performance of the superconductor and is cost effective.