Design Aspects of Dual Nb-Ta Sheet Diffusion Barriers for Nb3Sn Conductors Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Tantalum (Ta) diffusion barriers used in Nb3Sn superconductors deform nonuniformly during wire drawing. A strategy sometimes used to mitigate this problem is to place a sacrificial layer of niobium (Nb) next to the Ta to act as a mechanical transition zone between the softer Cu-Nb composite and the harder Ta. This approach can promote more uniform co-deformation of the Ta layer enabling thinner Ta layers and a reduced chance of layer rupture, and has the added benefit of providing additional Nb for conversion to Nb3Sn. A thinner Ta layer translates to less Ta volume and less cost. In the current work the authors find that a layer of Nb adjacent to a Ta layer embedded in Cu significantly increases the composite wire strain to fracture, and appears to decrease the Ta layer interface roughness. 2011 IEEE.

published proceedings

  • IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

author list (cited authors)

  • Hartwig, K. T., Balachandran, S., Barber, R. E., Pyon, T., & Griffin, R. B.

citation count

  • 2

complete list of authors

  • Hartwig, Karl T||Balachandran, Shreyas||Barber, Robert E||Pyon, Tae||Griffin, Richard B

publication date

  • June 2011