Aluminum-stabilized multifilamentary superconductor and method of its manufacture
AssigneeAirco, Inc.
InventorMorris S. Young
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multifilamentary superconductor having a large number fo NbTi filaments in an aluminum alloy matrix which is stabilized by a high-purity aluminum sheath is disclosed, together with the method of its manufacture. An Al alloy billet having a number of NbTi rods disposed therein is extruded. A superpure Al sheath is added; this product is then enclosed in copper and wiredrawn after which the copper is etched off.
Claims12
A method for manufacturing an aluminum-stabilized multifilamentary superconductor, which comprises:
- (a) preparing a cylindrical billet of aluminum alloy having a plurality of holes spaced apart from one another in an essentially circular and symmetric array extending therethrough parallel to the axis of the cylinder;
- (b) inserting rods of superconductive material into said holes;
- (c) extruding said billet such that it is elongated in the direction of its axis;
- (d) enclosing said extruded billet in a tube consisting essentially of aluminum not less than 99.999% pure;
- (e) further enclosing said enclosed extruded billet in a metallic sheath of a metal substantially harder than the aluminum of the tube;
- (f) working the assembly thus produced to a desired final cross sectional size not more than half its size prior to said working;
- and
- (g) removing the metallic sheath from the outside of the assembly.
A method for making a multifilamentary superconductor, stabilized with aluminum not less than 99.999% pure, comprising the steps of:
- preparing and extruding an aluminum alloy billet having a number of rods of superconductive alloy disposed therein in a symmetric and essentially circular pattern such that the rods are not in contact with one another to an intermediate size;
- enclosing the extruded billet in a tube of aluminum not less than 99.999% pure, and in a further metallic tube of a metal harder than the aluminum of said tube;
- working this assembly by wire drawing to a final size such that its diameter is at least halved;
- removing the further metallic tube;
- and heat-treating the product at a temperature of between 300.degree. and 400.degree. C. for a time between 24 and 72 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.