Zirconia-stabilized multi-filamentary niobium-tin superconducting wire

A superconducting wire, wherein said superconducting wire is formed from a preform comprising at least one niobium alloy rod, said at least one niobium alloy rod comprising a niobium alloy having zirconium and oxygen in solid solution, wherein zirconium and oxygen are present in an atomic ratio of about 1:2, and a metallic preform matrix surrounding and contacting said at least one niobium alloy rod, wherein said metallic preform matrix comprises tin, said superconducting wire comprising:

• a) a plurality of filaments, wherein each of said plurality of filaments has a filament diameter, wherein at least one of said plurality of filaments is continuous and comprises a plurality of Nb3Sn grains having a plurality of ZrO2 precipitates disposed therein, wherein said plurality of Nb3Sn grains has an average grain size of less than about 10 percent of said filament diameter;
• and
• b) a metallic matrix surrounding and contacting said plurality of filaments, wherein said metallic matrix is electrically conductive at temperatures below about 77 K and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as or greater than that of Nb3Sn.

An electromagnetic device comprising at least one superconducting wire, wherein said superconducting wire is formed from a preform comprising at least one niobium alloy rod, said at least one niobium alloy rod comprising a niobium alloy having zirconium and oxygen in solid solution, wherein zirconium and oxygen are present in an atomic ratio of about 1:2, and a metallic preform matrix surrounding and contacting said at least one niobium alloy rod, wherein said metallic preform matrix comprises tin, said superconducting wire comprising:

• a) a plurality of filaments, wherein each of said plurality of filaments has a filament diameter, wherein said at least one of said plurality of filaments is continuous and comprises a plurality of Nb3Sn grains having a plurality of ZrO2 precipitates disposed therein, wherein said plurality of Nb3Sn grains has an average grain size of less than about 10 percent of said filament diameter;
• b) and a metallic matrix surrounding and contacting said plurality of filaments, wherein said metallic matrix is electrically conductive at temperatures below about 77 K and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as or greater than that of Nb3Sn.