Method of manufacture of multifilamentary intermetallic superconductors

Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a multifilamentary superconductor having the composition A 3 B and the A-15 crystal structure, comprising the following steps: encasing one or more rods or wires of the A material within a sheath of a material consisting essentially of a compacted composite of Cu and the B material said composite being formed by compaction of Cu powder into a porous matrix, sintering said porous matrix, and dipping said porous matrix into a bath of the B material, whereby said B material is infiltrated into the pores in said sintered porous Cu matrix; working the sheathed rods to firmly consolidate said composite upon said rods; packing a plurality of the worked sheathed rods together; further working the assembled plurality of sheathed rods to a desired final shape and size; and subjecting the worked assembly to a heat treatment for a time and at a temperature such that the compound A 3 B is formed at the interfaces between the rods of the A material and the composite material.

Claim 2

A method for manufacturing a multifilamentary superconductor having the composition A 3 B and the A-15 crystal structure, comprising the following steps: encasing one or more rods or wires of the A material within a sheath of a material consisting essentially of a compacted composite of Cu and the B material said composite being formed by compaction of Cu powder into a porous matrix, sintering said porous matrix, and dipping said porous matrix into a bath of the B material, whereby said B material is infiltrated into the pores in said sintered porous Cu matrix; working the sheathed rods to firmly consolidate said composite upon said rods; packing a plurality of the worked sheathed rods together; further working the assembled plurality of sheathed rods to a desired final shape and size; and subjecting the worked assembly to a heat treatment for a time and at a temperature such that the compound A 3 B is formed at the interfaces between the rods of the A material and the composite material.

Claim 5

A method of manufacture of a multifilamentary superconductor of the type in which a predetermined number of fine filaments of intermetallic superconductive material having the composition A 3 B and the A-15 crystal structure are embedded in a matrix of normal conductor, which comprises: disposing wires of the A material in a matrix consisting of Cu and the B material, said Cu and said B material having substantially unalloyed, said matrix being formed by compaction of elemental powder of Cu to form a porous matrix and susequent infiltration of the B material into the pores of said porous matrix; working the assembly of wires of the A material and said matrix to a desired final shape and size; and performing a heat treatment to form said superconductive compound at the interfaces between said wires and said composite matrix.

Claim 6

A method of manufacture of a multifilamentary superconductor of the type in which a predetermined number of fine filaments of intermetallic superconductive material having the composition A 3 B and the A-15 crystal structure are embedded in a matrix of normal conductor, which comprises: disposing wires of the A material in a matrix consisting of Cu and the B material, said Cu and said B material having substantially unalloyed, said matrix being formed by compaction of elemental powder of Cu to form a porous matrix and susequent infiltration of the B material into the pores of said porous matrix; working the assembly of wires of the A material and said matrix to a desired final shape and size; and performing a heat treatment to form said superconductive compound at the interfaces between said wires and said composite matrix.

Claim 9

The method for manufacture of multifilamentary superconductive wire, comprising the steps of: preparing a composite material, consisting essentially of Cu and Sn, by compaction of powders; sheathing rods of Nb in strips of said composite material; drawing said sheathed Nb rods to an intermediate size; packing a plurality of said drawn rods within a generally tubular structure; reducing said tubular structure containing said rods to a desired final shape and size; and heat treating said structure at its final size to form Nb 3 Sn about said rods of Nb.

Claim 10

The method for manufacture of multifilamentary superconductive wire, comprising the steps of: preparing a composite material, consisting essentially of Cu and Sn, by compaction of powders; sheathing rods of Nb in strips of said composite material; drawing said sheathed Nb rods to an intermediate size; packing a plurality of said drawn rods within a generally tubular structure; reducing said tubular structure containing said rods to a desired final shape and size; and heat treating said structure at its final size to form Nb 3 Sn about said rods of Nb.