Internally oxidized Nb₃Sn strands with fine grain size and high critical current density.

Xu, Xingchen; Sumption, Michael D; Peng, Xuan · Adv Mater · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Nb3Sn strands fabricated using Nb-Zr alloy can be internally oxidized, provided that oxygen is properly supplied via an oxide powder. This allows the formation of fine intragranular and intergranular ZrO2 particles in a Nb3Sn matrix. These particles can refine the grain size by a factor of three and thereby greatly enhance the Nb3Sn critical current density.