A High Current Density Very Low Cost Niobium Tin (Titanium) Doped Conductor Utilizing A Novel Internal Tin Process, with Separate Stabilizing Elements Scalable to Modern Niobium Titanium Production Economics--Supergenics, 1233 Tree Bay Lane, Sarasota, FL 34242; 941-349-0930
Mr. Bruce A. Zeitlin, Principal Investigator
Mr. Bruce A. Zeitlin, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-99ER82899
Amount: $600,000

Magnets for next generation accelerators require higher performance from the superconductors used in their construction, so that magnetic fields of 12 Telsa or more can be achieved. The super-conductors must also be cost effective in order for the magnets generating these fields to be economically viable. This project will develop a Nb₃Sn, superconductor using an internal tin process approach. The approach will utilize micron-size filaments doped with titanium to achieve high current in a process that will allow the use of large-scale production techniques, such as those utilized in NbTi. The resultant conductor will be a cable of low cost copper, combined with the superconductor, that can readily be assembled into required cable configurations. Phase I demonstrated that long lengths of high-current-density wire could be fabricated using the large scale production techniques. Current densities in the superconducting layer reached almost 5600 A/mm2 at 12T in a non-optimized conductor. Cost models were developed that estimated production costs would be approximately $1.25/KA-meter in large quantities. In Phase II, the conductor will be designed and fabricated to optimize the ratios of tin and niobium for improved current density. Enough of the conductor will be produced to validate the process and permit its evaluation in magnets. A cladding technique will be also be developed. Finally, a production-scale billet will be designed and fabricated into wire to evaluate production parameters.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Lower cost superconductors should reduce the cost and expand the range of MRI, a billion dollar industry. In addition, applications in the utility sector that have been considering HTS superconductors may find that low cost Nb₃ Sn may be suitable in the nearer term.