Effects of the oxygen source configuration on the superconducting properties of internally-oxidized internal-Sn Nb₃Sn wires

Summary

This materials science study reports the successful manufacture of 12-filament Nb3Sn superconducting wires using internal oxidation methods with two distinct oxygen source configurations. The simultaneous incorporation of hafnium or zirconium with the oxygen source reduced grain size to ~50 nm and enhanced critical current density to 3000 A mm−2 in the hafnium-annular configuration, whilst achieving an exceptionally high upper critical field of 29.3 T. These improvements in high-field pinning performance indicate potential benefits for next-generation high-field magnet applications.

Key measures

Critical current density (Jc) in A mm−2 at 4.2 K and 16 T; average Nb3Sn grain size in nm; upper critical field in Tesla; pinning-force density and reduced magnetic field position

Outcomes reported

The study evaluated how different oxygen source configurations in Nb3Sn wires affect superconducting properties, grain size, and critical current density. Researchers measured critical current density, upper critical field, and pinning-force density across samples with varying alloy compositions and oxygen source placements.

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