Advanced, High-Filament-Count, Nb3Al, Jelly-Roll Strand for Accelerator Applications

70883 Future high field (15T+) dipole magnets, needed for high energy physics experiments, will require higher performance superconductors with long piece lengths to reduce the cost of these conductors. Nb3Al superconductors can fulfill this need, and this project will configure this wire as a practical HEP conductor with a high filament count. The long piece lengths will be addressed by extruding large billets to obtain bonding, and by conventional drawing plus cassette die drawing. Phase I will demonstrate the large diameter extrusion of Nb3Al multifilament wires, with further processing to achieve small diameters. The wire will be rapidly quenched and its mechanical and electrical properties will be evaluated for use in Rutherford cables. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The superconducting wire should be applicable in accelerator and fusion magnets markets. High field magnets (above 5 tesla) would have use in MRI, NMR, high gradient magnetic separators, and SMES applications.