Rapid Quench Nb3Al for High Field Accelerator Applications

171 Rapid Quench Nb3Al for High Field Accelerator Applications--Plastronic, Inc., 35 Mary-Bill Drive, Troy, OH 45373-1033; (937) 335-0656 Mr. Michael Tomsic, Principal Investigator Mr. Michael Tomsic, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82460 Amount: $75,000 Niobium-aluminide wires have been recently identified as a strain-tolerant superconductor for high-field magnet applications used in charged-particle accelerators. The rod-in-tube and jelly-roll methods of creating wire are the two methods that have most closely approached the commercial prototype stage. A new approach that offers the possibility of higher critical current density at higher magnetic fields is the continuous-rapid-quench method. This method also offers the potential of forming nonsuperconducting wire that can be twisted, bent, or wound and then subjected to a moderate but quick heat treatment to make it superconducting as well as the potential to apply a copper stabilizer after the rapid quench but before the final heat treatment. The Phase I program will explore the processing parameters for the continuous-rapid-quench process. Short wire samples will be made and tested during Phase I. During Phase II longer lengths of wires will be made, tested, and processing parameters will be optimized. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The project will enable the use of niobium-aluminide materials in accelerator magnets that have considerably higher operating magnetic fields than present-day magnets. This superconductor will have commercial benefit for superconducting motors, generators, energy storage, and high-field nuclear magnetic resonance systems.