Study of RHQT-processed Nb3Al wires for high-field accelerator magnet applications

Abstract

We have developed Nb3Al wires with a low Nb matrix ratio in order to attain a high critical current density. Test wires were prepared with different fabrication parameters, mainly the Nb matrix ratio, RHQ current, and the area reduction ratio of the wire after an RHQ heat treatment. The critical current and n-values of these wires were measured. Our newly developed wire with a Nb matrix ratio of 0.6 was almost the same RHQ heat-treatment effect and area reduction effect as those of samples with different Nb matrix ratios. However, the critical current density of our wire was lower than that of these samples. In order to determine the reason for this low critical current density, Tc measurements and tensile strain tests were also performed. In this paper, we report the characteristics of the sample with a Nb matrix ratio of 0.6 and compare them with those of the other samples.