Papers by Author: E.N. Popova

Abstract: In the present study, the Nb₃Sn-based multifilamentary wires with coupled Nb filaments have been investigated by SEM and TEM after various regimes of intermediate annealing including short high-temperature heat treatments and after two-staged diffusion annealing. The formation of some amount of pre-reacted Nb₃Sn layers has been revealed in all the wires studied, and their amount depends on the wire diameter, temperature and duration of the intermediate heat treatment. The structure of final diffusion layers is also affected by the regimes of these preliminary treatments. This research enables the revealing of the optimal heat treatment schedules for the formation of most perfect nanocrystalline structure of superconducting layers ensuring the highest critical current densities.

Abstract: The structure and thermal stability of Cu-18Nb multicore composite fabricated by repeated cold-drawing of in situ melted mixture of Cu and Nb and subjected to high-pressure torsion (HPT) have been studied by SEM, TEM, X-ray analysis and microhardness measurements. In the cold-drawn state ribbon-like Nb filaments the thickness of 30-70 nm are located in Cu-matrix with sharp texture <110>_Nb║<111>_Cu║drawing axis. The Nb lattice is distorted, the interplanar spacing (110)_Nb being extended along the drawing axis and compressed perpendicular to it, which testifies a semi-coherent character of Cu/Nb interfaces. At annealing these distorsions gradually vanish, and coagulation of Nb ribbons starts at 400С, actively develops at 600С and finishes at 800С with the formation of sausage-like filaments with round transverse sections, which is accompanied with about two-fold decreasing of microhardness. Under the HPT the composite structure is considerably refined, and almost equiaxed grains the sizes of 20-30 nm are formed, which gives rise to a dramatic increase of microhardness. The thermal stability of Cu-Nb composite after cold drawing and HPT is appreciably higher than that of pure Nb and Cu nanostructured by severe plastic deformation.

Abstract: Formation of microstructure in Ni under equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and dynamic channel-angular pressing (DCAP), its thermal stability and diffusion properties of grain boundaries are investigated. Grain boundary diffusion in the ultrafine-grained Ni is found to be significantly faster than in the coarse-grained Ni, which indicates a 'non-equilibrium' (deformation-modified) state of grain boundaries in the former. The effect of non-equilibrium state of grain boundaries on the level of internal stresses is analyzed.

Abstract: Evolution of structure and properties of Ni under severe plastic deformation by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and dynamic channel-angular pressing (DCAP) has been studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy and microhardness measurements, and the differences in formation of submicrocrystalline structure under different deformation techniques have been revealed. The thermal stability of structure obtained by these methods is compared. It is demonstrated that under the DCAP processing the material is strengthened faster, by lesser number of passes, and microstructure’s thermal stability is somewhat lower after ECAP compared to that after DCAP, although after equal number of passes ECAP results in a more homogeneous microstructure.

Abstract: The evolution of structure and morphology of superconducting Nb₃Sn layers forming under various regimes of the diffusion annealing in multifilamentary Nb/Cu–Sn superconductors of different design is briefly reviewed based on the authors’ (with their coauthors) original studies and the available publications. Different modes of the solid-state diffusion formation of the superconducting phase are compared. Possible mechanisms of the Nb₃Sn nucleation upon the diffusion reaction of the Nb filaments and bronze matrixes are discussed. The effects of different doping elements, especially Ti, on the formation of the superconducting phase, its structure and morphology, and, consequently, on the current-carrying capacities of multifilamentary Nb₃Sn-based wires are considered. Special attention is paid to the effect of the mode of Ti doping, the content of this alloying element and the regimes of the diffusion annealing on the structure, morphology and resulting performance of the bronze-processed wires with coupled Nb filaments worked out at Bochvar Institute of Inorganic Materials for the creation of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

Abstract: The structure and morphology of Nb₃Sn layers in superconducting Nb/Cu-Sn composites with ring (tubular) Nb filaments have been studied by transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy after various regimes of diffusion annealing. It is demonstrated that the tubular geometry of Nb filaments, in which Sn diffuses from the bronze matrix both from inside and outside, ensures practically complete transformation of Nb into the superconducting Nb₃Sn phase. Besides, at certain regimes of the diffusion annealing this geometry enables the improvement of the superconducting layers morphology compared to that of wires with continuous filaments, namely, to obtain wide Nb₃Sn layers with fine equiaxed grains and to avoid the formation of columnar grains, which promotes enhanced current-carrying capacities of the wires.

Abstract: The structure and properties of multi-rod Cu-Nb composites with the true strain of 10.2 and 12.5 have been studied by TEM, SEM and microhardness measurements. The non-uniform distribution of Nb ribbons throughout the composite cross sections was revealed, at higher strain their structure being more dispersed. In both wires the Cu/Nb interfaces are partly coherent, and the Nb lattice is more distorted at interfaces than in the bulk. The behavior at heating was studied in the temperature range of 300-800^оС. In the range of 600-800^oC complete coagulation of Nb filaments accompanied with drastic microhardness drop is observed. The thermal stability of Cu-Nb nanocomposites is higher than that of Nb and Cu nanostructured by SPD.

Abstract: Various modes of severe plastic deformation (SPD), such as high-pressure torsion (HPT) at cryogenic temperature, equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and dynamic channel-angular pressing (DCAP), have been applied for nanostructuring of Ni, and the thermal stability of the structure obtained has been studied. The nanocrystalline structure with average grain sizes of 80 nm and the microhardness of 6200 MPa is produced by HPT in liquid nitrogen. DCAP and ECAP result in the submicrocrystalline structure of a mixed type, with ultra-fine grains separated by high-angle boundaries along with deformation bands and coarse cells with low-angle dislocation boundaries. The thermal stability of the structures obtained by ECAP and DCAP is approximately the same, and it is higher than after the HPT at cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: The evolution of structure of high-strength heavily deformed Cu-Nb composites processed by two different methods (melt-and-deform and bundle-and-deform) is briefly reviewed based on the authors’ (with their coauthors) original studies and the available publications. Specific features of their texture are considered. In particular, it is demonstrated that the ribbon-like Nb filaments possess not only the sharp fiber texture but the limited texture with components characteristic of cold-drawn Nb. The semi-coherent and amorphous state of Cu/Nb interfaces is discussed. The thermal stability of single-core and multi-core wires is considered. The effect of Zr and Ti doping on the structure and mechanical properties is demonstrated.

Abstract: The structure of high-purity copper and stabilizing copper of Cr-plated Nb₃Sn-strands with different RRR (residual resistance ratio) values has been studied. Cr diffusion into peripheral layers of stabilizing Cu has been revealed. The variations of RRR and Cr content in Cu at annealing have been estimated. It is demonstrated that an additional drop of RRR may be caused by oxygen diffusion from Cr coating obtained by electroplating. Optimal regimes of the diffusion annealing of Cr-plated Nb₃Sn-strands for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) have been determined.