Papers by Author: Simon C. Hopkins

Abstract: In order to investigate the high temperature exposure effect on Nb Ti/Cu superconducting strands, as might be encountered in joining by soldering and in cabling annealing, X-ray diffraction and resistometry measurements were performed in situ during heat treatment, and complemented by conventional metallography, mechanical tests and superconducting properties measurements. Changes of the Nb Ti nanostructure at temperatures above 300°C are manifested in the degradation of critical current in an applied external magnetic field, although degradation at self field was insignificant up to 400°C for several minutes. Above 500°C, the formation of various Cu Ti intermetallic compounds, due to Ti diffusion from Nb Ti into Cu, is detected by in situ XRD albeit not resolvable by SEM-EDS. There is a ductile to brittle transition near 600°C, and liquid formation is observed below 900°C. The formation of Cu Ti causes a delayed reduction of the residual resistivity ratio (RRR) and adversely affects the deformation behaviour of the strands.

Abstract: The reactive diffusion and phase formation sequences in two types of ‘internal tin’ superconducting wires designed for the ITER project, which investigates the production of electricity by means of nuclear fusion, have been studied during heat treatments both in situ, using electrical resistometry [1] and ex situ, using optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray Micro-Tomography (XMT). XMT reveals long pores in the longitudinal direction which may result in tin deficiency thereat and hence local off-stoichiometric Nb3Sn. Microscopy suggests there are incomplete conversion of elemental tin to copper-tin intermetallics before ramping above the tin melting temperature, nonuniform distribution of tin before formation of Nb3Sn, and filament movement and bridging, stacking cracks and unreacted niobium at the end of the heat treatment. FEGSEM shows a fine microstructure which nevertheless could still be improved.

Abstract: The bronze process is a mature technology for the production of Nb3Sn superconducting wires exploiting reaction diffusion behaviour in the Cu-Nb-Sn system. However, the superconducting properties depend strongly on the applied heat treatment, and optimisation of the heat treatment is still largely by trial and improvement. Modelling of the reaction-diffusion behaviour would allow improved heat treatments to be designed; combination of this with a nondestructive in situ characterisation technique would also permit improved superconducting wires to be produced. A finite difference reaction diffusion model has been designed to permit rapid calculation of the bronze matrix composition and Nb3Sn layer thickness profiles across the wire cross-section as a function of time for any applied heat treatment. The model has also been designed to calculate the electrical resistivity of the wire, which has previously been demonstrated as a suitable in situ characterisation technique. This model has been applied to isothermal and more complex heat treatments and compared with experimental results. Good qualitative agreement has been found, and plans for further improvement of the model are described in detail.