Metallographic analysis of 11 T dipole coils for High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC)

For next-generation accelerator magnets for fields beyond those achievable using Nb-Ti, Nb3Sn is the most viable superconductor. The high luminosity upgrade for the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) marks an important milestone as it will be the first project where Nb3Sn magnets will be installed in an accelerator. Nb3Sn is a brittle intermetallic, so magnet coils are typically wound from composite strands containing ductile precursors before heat treating the wire components to form Nb3Sn. However, some mechanical assembly is still required after the coils have been heat-treated. In this paper, we present direct evidence of cracking of the brittle Nb3Sn filaments in a prototype dipole that resulted in degraded magnet performance. The cracking of the Nb3Sn, in this case, can be attributed to an issue with the collaring process that is required in the assembly of dipole accelerator magnets. Metallographic procedures were developed to visualize cracks present in the cables, along with quantitative image analysis for location-based crack analysis. We show that the stresses experienced in the damaged coil are above the critical damage stress of Nb3Sn conductor, as evidenced by a measured Cu stabilizer hardness of 85 HV0.1, which is higher than the Cu stabilizer hardness in a reference Nb3Sn cable ten-stack that was subjected to a 210 MPa transverse compression. We also show that once the collaring procedure issue was rectified in a subsequent dipole, the Nb3Sn filaments were found to be undamaged, and the Cu stabilizer hardness values were reduced to the expected levels. This paper provides a post-mortem verification pathway to analyze the damage, provides strand level mechanical properties, which could be beneficial for improving model prediction capabilities. This method could be applied beyond Nb3Sn magnets to composite designs involving high work hardening materials.

Automated summary

This paper presents evidence of cracking in brittle Nb3Sn filaments in a prototype dipole, resulting in degraded magnet performance. Metallographic procedures were developed to visualize cracks in the cables and quantitative image analysis for location-based crack analysis. The study reveals how rectifying the collaring procedure issue can prevent Nb3Sn filaments from damage and reduce Cu stabilizer hardness values.