Formation of A15-phase in Ta/ Nb3Al0.75Ge0.25-powder - and Nb/ Nb3Al0.75Ge0.25-powder - composites and their superconducting properties

The experiments were done using a powder mixture of Nb, Al and Ge with a particle diameter of less than 50 μm which was filled into Ta- or Nb-tubes. These composites were cold-worked and heated from 400°C (10°C/min) up to 850 or 900°C and annealed 20 min on this temperature. By this heat treatment in many areas the intermetallic compound Nb(Al,Ge)3is formed within the powder mixture. After a second cold deformation the composites were annealed at 1000, 1200 or 1300°C with different annealing times. Microprobe analysis was used to investigate the phase distribution. The formation of the A15-phase was also investigated by transition temperature measurements, which were done by the inductive method. The highest transition temperature was found after 1300°C furnace annealing. Maximum critical current was achieved by short-time resistive annealing at 1200°C of 0.5 mm θ wire. The reason for the high current carrying capacity of the short-time annealed samples can be seen from the Tc-measurements which show that a A15-phase with high transition temperature is formed even after a short annealing time. Possible improvements of superconductors made from powder mixtures are discussed.