Low-Cost, Long-Length Manufacturing of Continuously Melt-Quenched Processed, Full Stabilized, Multifilamentary High-Field Nb₃Al Superconductor--Plastronic, Inc., Subsidiary of Eurus Technologies Inc., 2031 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Innovation Park, Tallahassee, FL 32310; 1-800-574-1800
Mr. Michael Tomsic, Principal Investigator
Mr. John A. Romans, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-99ER82789
Amount: $600,000

The economical manufacture of long lengths of multifilament niobium-aluminum (Nb₃Al) wire is needed to produce very high magnetic field coils for nuclear magnetic resonance, accelerators, and research magnets. Such a wire is required for future high-energy accelerator magnets because Nb₃Al maintains a high critical current density in fields in the 10-25 Tesla range. This project will develop a low cost manufacturing process for Nb₃Al superconducting wire in lengths of 300 meters or more. In Phase I, long continuous tubes were successfully filled with a mechanically-alloyed powder, a unique wire drawing technique produced Nb₃A1 precursor wires, and a rapid quench process was applied to the wire. Following the rapid quench, a process and associated equipment were developed for adding a copper stablizer before the ordering heat treatment. The Phase II effort will further develop the continuous tube forming and filling process as well as the process for reducing the precursor wire. Ultimately, the production of 300+ meter lengths of monofilament and multifilament Nb₃ Al wire will be demonstrated.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should provide low cost, higher performing superconducting wire for High Energy Physics applications like accelerators. Commercial applications include NMR, MRI, Magnetic Separation, and R&D Magnets.