Abstract
Cu-Nb composite wires prepared in the first step of the in-situ process for the Nb3Sn superconducting wires are considered as composite materials for the conductor of water-cooled coils and for reinforcing stabilizer of high field superconductor. Mechanical and electrical properties are studied for several samples prepared by induction melting in a CaO crucible and drawing. These composites have large yield stress above 50kg/mm2 even after annealing at 750°C for 1 hour. Moreover annealed wires show magnetoresistance of about 0.25μΩcm at high field of 15T, comparable with that of Al2O3 dispersion strengthened copper (K. Noto et al.: Proc. MT-9 (1986) 700). Therefore, it is found that Cu-Nb composite wires are applicable not only to normal conductors in high field, but also to reinforcing stabilizers for large-scale and/or high-field superconducting wires.
