Studies of the microstructure of a superconducting Nb3Sn-Band obtained from (Cu/Nb)/Cu12Sn nanocomposite

Abstract

A multilayer layer from the superconducting compound Nb3Sn was obtained by the thermal treatment of composite (Cu/Nb)/Cu12Sn conductor consisting of Cu-12% Sn and Cu/Nb interlayers consisting in turn of nanosized copper and niobium layers. The conductor was coated with copper from the outside, which served as a stabilizer. The microstructure of the cross section of the composite band in dependence on the volume ratio of Cu/Nb and bronze interlayers and the microstructure of the Cu/Nb interlayers themselves in dependence on the annealing temperature were investigated. The optimum ratio of composite components was as follows: tNbNNb ≈ 0.288tCuSnNCuSn, where t and N are the thickness and number of the niobium and bronze layers, respectively. Trying to maintain the optimum design of the conductor forced us to increase the bronze volume content relative to the content of Cu/Nb interlayers, which had a negative impact on the composite microstructure. This resulted in disruptions of Cu/Nb interlayers. A technique has been developed for producing the (Cu/Nb)/Cu12Sn composite as a precursor to the band from the Nb3Sn compound with allowance for the first experiment’s shortcomings.