Dimensional Changes of $\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$ Conductors and Conduit Alloys During Reaction Heat Treatment

The performance of
$\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$
composite superconducting wire is highly dependent on its strain state, which is difficult to predict or measure accurately. There is limited data in the literature on
$\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$
or conduit alloys for the thermal expansion/contraction that occurs during reaction heat treatments. Thermal expansion measurements of two contemporary
$\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$
wires and two conduit alloys—316LN and JK2LB—are taken individually during reaction heat treatments in a wide temperature range (4–1200 K) dilatometer system at the NHMFL. The measurements observed here are compared with the existing data and predicted models. This work significantly increases the available data for
$\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$
superconductors and conduit alloys that can be used in magnet design and predictive modeling.