Nb--Sn precursors having controlled impurities and method of making
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMelissa Lea Murray, Bruce Alan Knudsen, Christopher Gus King, Mark Gilbert Benz, Robert John Zabala, Anthony Mantone
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Abstract
Nb--Sn precursor articles are described that include a Nb alloy article that is at least partially coated with a layer of a Sn alloy, such as a Sn--Cu alloy. The precursor articles described herein have a controlled concentration of the impurity elements As and S in the Sn alloy layer. The concentration of these elements in the Sn alloy layer is less than or equal to 50 ppm by weight. This invention also describes a method for making Nb--Sn precursor articles having a controlled concentration of As and S impurities.
Claims14
A method for making a Nb--Sn precursor article, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a Nb alloy article having an outer surface;
- and
- coating at least a portion of the outer surface of the Nb alloy article with a layer of a Sn alloy having an impurity element selected from the group consisting of S and As, wherein the maximum concentration of each impurity is less than or equal to about 50 ppm by weight.
A method for making a superconductive Nb.sub.3 Sn article, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a Nb alloy article having an outer surface;
- coating at least a portion of the outer surface of the Nb alloy article with a layer of a Sn alloy having an impurity element selected from the group consisting of S and As, wherein the maximum concentration of each impurity element is less than or equal to 50 ppm by weight, and wherein the Nb alloy article and the Sn alloy layer comprise a precursor article;
- and
- heating the precursor article at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a layer of Nb.sub.3 Sn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.