
706 Part 4 Functional Materials
10
6
10
5
10
4
10
3
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
B (T)
J
C
non-Cu
(A/cm
–2
)
0.1 µV/cm
NbTi
Nb
3
Sn
(NbTa)
3
Sn
(NbTaTi)
3
Sn
4.2K
2KNbTi
Nb
3
Sn
(NbTa)
3
Sn
(NbTaTi)
3
Sn
4.2K
2K
4.2K
2K
4.2K
2K
Fig. 4.2-6 Non-Cu J
c
versus B characteristics of Nb
−
Ti, binary
Nb
3
Sn, alloyed (Nb, Ta)
3
Sn, and alloyed (Nb, Ta, Ti)
3
Sn multifil-
amentary superconductors [2.8]
Nb–Ti Superconductors
Extensive accounts are given in [2.4, 6, 7]. The
Nb
−
Ti alloy phase diagram combined with the low-
temperature T
c
(c
Ti
) and B
c2
(c
Ti
) relations of the
0 20406080100
Ti content (at.%)
1000
800
600
400
200
0
12.5
10.0
7.5
5.0
2.5
0
12.5
10.0
7.5
5.0
2.5
0
0 20406080100
Ti content (at.%)
Temperature (C°)
a) b)
T
C
(K) B
C2
(T)
β
β+α
α
B
C2
(4K)
T
C
Fig. 4.2-7a,b Phase relations and superconducting properties in the
Nb
−
Ti alloy system.
(a) Nb
−
Ti phase diagram in the solid state.
(b) T
c
and B
c2
(4 K) of the metastable β phase
superconducting β phase (Fig. 4.2-7a and b), provide
the basic features of both the intrinsic superconducting
properties of the β phase and of the potential for flux pin-
ning by precipitation of the α phase induced by suitable
heat treatment in the α +β two-phase range.
The subsequent characteristic data are taken from
systematic treatments and measurements of a Cu sta-
bilized Nb–46.5 wt% Ti superconductor [2.9] which is
in the range of optimum composition according to
Table 4.2-8 and Fig. 4.2-7b. The processing of the com-
posite consists essentially of a succession of deformation
treatments, usually by wire drawing to different strains
(true strain ε
t
= 2ln(d
i
/d), where d
i
is the initial rod
diameter and d is the filament diameter at the draw-
ing strain considered), followed by heat treatments for
20 h to 40 h, mainly at temperatures in the range 360 to
380
◦
C, but also up to 420
◦
C. The first stage of defor-
mation of the homogeneous metastable β phase leads
to the formation of a high density of dislocations, thus
providing a high density of heterogeneous nucleation
sites for the precipitation of a fine dispersion of α phase
particles during the first heat treatment. During the sub-
sequent cycles of deformation and heat treatment the
α particles previously formed are elongated and partially
broken up. Additional particles may be newly formed
along dislocation cell walls and subgrain boundaries.
The particle spacing transverse to the drawing direc-
tion is reduced. These variations of the dispersion are
strongly affecting the pinning behavior and, thus, the J
c
values obtained, referring to a composite resistivity of
10
−14
Ω m.
The diagrams of Fig. 4.2-8a–e show J
c
as a function
of the true drawing strain ε
t
. The parameters are different
thermal treatments, and different conditions (magnetic
field, temperature) of measurement.
From measurements such as those shown in
Fig. 4.2-8e, the effective bulk pinning force F
p
can be
evaluated as shown in Fig. 4.2-9.
Fig. 4.2-8a–e Critical current variations as a function of
different thermal treatments, final drawing strain and field
of measurement, respectively, of an Nb–46.5 wt%Ti super-
conductor at 4.2 K [2.9].
(a) 160 h at 405
◦
C, ◦ 80 h at
405
◦
C; ×40 h at 375
◦
C. — B = 5T, --- B = 8T.(b) All
treatments for 80 h: 375
◦
C, ◦ 405
◦
C, 420
◦
C, ♦435
◦
C.
— B = 5T, --- B = 8T.
(c) All treatments at 420
◦
C:
×160 h, 80 h, ◦ 40 h, 10 h, ♦5h. B = 5T.
(d) 160 h
at 420
◦
C: ◦ two heat treatments, three heat treatments.
B = 5T.
(e) Full field optimum: ×80 h at 420
◦
C, 40 h at
375
◦
C, ◦ 5 h at 405
◦
C
Part 4 2.1