DEVELOPMENT OF APC NB-TI COMPOSITE CONDUCTORS AT SUPERCON, INC

Supercon has developed a unique method for the fabrication of artifici al pinning center (APC) NbTi superconductors. In this process, pure ni obium and titanium layers are partially diffused so as to produce a su perconductor/normal structure that will provide flux pinning at final conductor size. No precipitation heat treatments are required. Process development has resulted in conductors with filament diameters as sma ll as 6 microns and as large as 90 microns, Excellent conductor ductil ity and J(c) performance have been demonstrated. Supercon APC conducto r has been utilized in solenoid, model dipole, and MRI magnets, An ove rview of the development program expensive. Second, whereas diffusion can be detrimental in will be presented along with a status report on conductor scale-up efforts.