Methods of preparing Nb3Al superconducting wire and Nb3Al superconducting stranded wire

摘要

Provided are methods of preparing an Nb₃Al superconducting wire and an Nb₃Al stranded wire having excellent superconductivity and uniform characteristics to be applicable to manufacturing of large-sized conductors or coils, and an apparatus for preparing the same.;The method of preparing an NB₃Al superconducting wire comprises the steps of passing an Nb/Al composite wire (14) consisting of an Nb metal or an Nb alloy and an Al metal or an Al alloy through a furnace (12) for heating the same from the room temperature to a prescribed temperature, subsequently passing the same (14) through the furnace (12) for holding the same at the prescribed temperature, and subsequently passing the same (14) through a cooling part (13) for cooling the same from the prescribed temperature to the room temperature, and these steps are continuously carried out by continuously moving the wire (14). According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an Nb₃Al superconducting wire having homogeneous characteristics along its overall width with a high critical current density.;Further, it is possible to obtain an Nb₃Al superconducting stranded wire similarly having high characteristics, by stranding up wires which are heat treated in the aforementioned manner, or previously stranding up wires and thereafter heat treating the same in the aforementioned manner.