Nb3Sn multifilamentary superconductors fabricated through a diffusion reaction between Nb and Ag-Sn alloys

Ag-Sn alloy is very attractive for fabricating Nb3Sn wires through diffusion reaction, because Ag-based alloy including a large amount of Sn is ductile. Therefore we investigated the Nb3Sn formation through the diffusion reaction between Nb and Ag-Sn alloys. With using Ag-9 at% Sn fcc phase, Ag-12 at% Sn ? phase, and Ag-24at% Sn phase alloys, we fabricated single-core, 200-core, and 40000-core composite wires with Nb matrix and Ag-Sn alloy cores. With increase of Sn content in Ag-Sn alloys, the obtained superconducting properties of heat treated composite wires were improved. Tc and Bc2(4.2 K) for the Nb/Ag-Sn are similar to those for the Nb/Cu-Sn. However, the Ic values are relatively small, due to the formed very thin Nb3Sn layers. Ag is apparently not so effective to increase the formation rate of Nb3Sn layer as Cu. We obtained very interesting results by making the 200-core and 40000-core wires, which show the improved Tc and Bc2(4.2 K) by 0.5-1 K and 2-5 T, respectively. From 10 to 500 times larger Ic(4.2 K) were also obtained for the multifilamentary wires.