Influence of Zn Addition in Cu Matrix on the Mechanical and Superconducting Properties of Nb3Sn Conductor

New generation accelerators, such as future circular collider (FCC), require superconducting wires with non-copper J(c) of 1500 A/mm(2) at 16 T and 4.2 K. Kobe Steel Ltd. developed Nb3Sn conductors with elemental addition to achieve the target J(c) for FCC. The effect of zinc addition to the copper matrix on the superconducting properties and mechanical strength of the distributed tin (DT) method processed Nb3Sn wire is studied. In the present study, the I-c-strain characteristics were evaluated using Walters springs (WASP) at 16 T and 4.2 K to investigate the impact of copper (Cu) and brass (Cu-Zn) matrix on further J(c) improvement and mechanical robustness.

Automated summary

This study examined the impact of zinc addition to the copper matrix on the superconducting properties and mechanical strength of Nb3Sn wires. The I-c-strain characteristics were evaluated using Walters springs to investigate the effect of copper and brass matrix on further improving J(c) and mechanical robustness.