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The microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb3Sn filamentary superconducting composites

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Abstract

The deformation processes in filamentary superconducting composites at both room temperature and 4.2 K have been studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In all the composites, the filaments consisted of a central core of unreacted niobium surrounded by a reacted layer of Nb3Sn. The Nb3Sn failed in an intergranular manner without any prior dislocation activity and the radial cracks formed in the Nb3Sn layer during deformation were stopped at the niobium core. The observed variations in ductility, fracture stress and secondary modulus between the different composites were accounted for quantitatively by the presence of the niobium cores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK

    Anne W. West & Rees D. Rawlings

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  1. Anne W. West
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  2. Rees D. Rawlings
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West, A.W., Rawlings, R.D. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb3Sn filamentary superconducting composites. J Mater Sci 14, 1179–1186 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561303

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561303

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