Abstract: A device for the high pressure densification of superconducting wire from compacted superconductor material or superconductor precursor powder particles, has four hard metal anvils (5, 6, 7, 8) with a total length (L2) parallel to the superconducting wire, the hard metal anvils borne in external independent pressure blocks (9, 10, 11), which are in turn either fixed or connected to high pressure devices, preferably hydraulic presses. At least one of the hard metal anvils is a free moving anvil (6) having clearances of at least 0.01 mm up to 0.2 mm towards the neighboring hard metal anvils (5, 8), so that no wall friction occurs between the free moving anvil and the neighboring anvils. This allows for high critical current densities Jc at reduced pressure applied to the hard metal anvils.

Abstract: A device for the high pressure densification of superconducting wire from compacted superconductor material or superconductor precursor powder particles, has four hard metal anvils (5, 6, 7, 8) with a total length (L2) parallel to the superconducting wire, the hard metal anvils borne in external independent pressure blocks (9, 10, 11), which are in turn either fixed or connected to high pressure devices, preferably hydraulic presses. At least one of the hard metal anvils is a free moving anvil (6) having clearances of at least 0.01 mm up to 0.2 mm towards the neighboring hard metal anvils (5, 8), so that no wall friction occurs between the free moving anvil and the neighboring anvils. This allows for high critical current densities Jc at reduced pressure applied to the hard metal anvils.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P?100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor ? is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.

Abstract: A hollow tube (1), for inserting superconductor precursor material such as superconductor precursor rods (13) into its bore (3), wherein the tube (1) extends along an axial direction, and wherein the tube (1) comprises a matrix (4) made of a first ductile material, is characterized in that a plurality of continuous filaments (5), extending along the axial direction of the tube (1), are distributed in the matrix (4), wherein the continuous filaments (5) are made of a second ductile material. With the invention, a good quality mechanical reinforcement of superconductor wires, in particular which can be used without later hot extrusion, can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite (1), comprising a Cu—Sn bronze matrix (2) and filaments (3) surrounded by the bronze matrix (2), wherein the filaments (3) contain niobium (?Nb) or a Nb alloy, characterized in that the filaments (3) contain between 0.3% and 20% of volume of copper (?Cu) substructures (4), which are distributed within the Nb or the Nb alloy. The composite can be used to produce a superconducting element with the bronze route which has an improved critical current density.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P?100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor F is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.

Abstract: A superconductive element containing Nb3Sn, in particular a multifilament wire, comprising at least one superconductive filament (8) which is obtained by a solid state diffusion reaction from a preliminary filament structure (1), said preliminary filament structure (1) containing an elongated hollow pipe (2) having an inner surface (3) and an outer surface (4), wherein said hollow pipe (2) consists of Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, wherein the outer surface (4) is in close contact with a surrounding bronze matrix (5) containing Cu and Sn, and wherein the inner surface (3) is in close contact with an inner bronze matrix (5) also containing Cu and Sn, is characterized in that the inner bronze matrix (5) of the preliminary filament structure (1) encloses in its central region an elongated core (6) consisting of a metallic material, said metallic material having at room temperature (=RT) a thermal expansion coefficient ?core<17*10?6K?1, preferably ?core?8*10?6 K?1, said metallic material having at RT a

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A superconductive element containing magnesiumdiboride (=MgB2), comprising at least one superconductive filament (1) of a size between 5 and 500 micron, which is enclosed in a metallic matrix (2) and also comprising at least one highly conductive ohmic element (4),the superconducting filaments being separated from the matrix (2) and from the conductive ohmic element (4) by a protective metallic layer (3), the superconductive filament being formed by a reaction between boron (B) and magnesium (Mg) powders and boron carbide (=B4C) powders as a first additive is characterized in that one or more additional powder additives containing carbon are present in the reaction of the powder mixtures including Mg, B and B4C. The reaction of the powder mixture to MgB2 is carried out at temperatures between 500 and 760° C. leading to a maximum of the critical current density, Jc, at temperatures at 760° C. and below.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive element, in particular a multifilament wire, starting from a composite (1) comprising a bronze matrix containing Cu and Sn, in which at least one elongated structure containing Nb or an Nb alloy, in particular NbTa, is embedded, whereby in a first step the composite is extruded at a temperature between 300° C. and 750° C.

Abstract: A wire electrode for machining a piece by electro-erosion includes a metallic core and a cladding having an alloy of manganese and zinc obtained by simultaneous electrolytic deposition at a thickness between 1 and 40 micrometers. The cladding permits a substantial increase of the machining, particularly rough machining, performance, a considerable deformability of the wire, a high resistance to traction and stability of the cladding over time.