Abstract: A composite superconductor comprises a matrix of an alloy which is normally conductive at operating temperatures with the alloy being copper and another alloying element. Several superconducting filaments are embedded in the matrix with these filaments being formed by a diffusion reaction between at least two elements. An aluminum jacket surrounds the matrix. A barrier layer formed from at least one intermetallic copper-aluminum compound is disposed between the aluminum jacket and the alloy matrix. The aluminum jacket may be formed by extrusion at an elevated temperature with the boundary layer between the aluminum jacket and the alloy matrix being concurrently formed by diffusion.

Abstract: A metal part, which may be an amorphous metal, is formed from an intermediate product comprised of at least two alloy components in powder form which have been compacted and optionally deformed such as by hammering or extrusion. The intermediate part is transformed into the metal part by a diffusion reaction. The intermediate product is produced by milling the at least two starting alloy components to form a mixture powder of particles having a predominantly layer-like structure comprising the starting alloy components. At least one of the starting alloy components is magnetic. After milling, the produced mixture powder is subjected to a magnetic field which aligns the still mobile powder particles. Thereafter, the final compacting and possible deformation takes place.