Method for manufacturing superconducting wire

Abstract

A compound superconducting wire comprising a matrix of CuX alloy and a multiplicity of Z.sub.3 X filaments embedded in the matrix in a spaced relationship so as not to come into contact with each other wherein X is Sn or Ga and Z.sub.3 X is Nb.sub.3 Sn or V.sub.3 Ga. In a precursor, therefore, a multiplicity of filaments of a base metal material Z such as Nb are arranged in a Cu base metal matrix concentrically in layers around a center core of a base metal material X such as Sn, in which the spacing between any adjacent filaments arranged in a former boundary region of an .epsilon.-phase bronze layer having a certain radius from the center produced when the precursor is preheat-treated at a temperature of 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. is made larger than the spacing between any adjacent filaments arranged in the other matrix regions. Also disclosed is a precursor wire wherein a composite of a Cu base metal material and a base metal material X capable of forming an alloy with the Cu base metal material is used as a matrix without arranging a core of the base metal material X at the center, and a multiplicity of filaments of a base metal material Z are embedded in the composite in a spaced relationship.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.