Superconducting and mechanical properties of cold hydrostatically extruded monofilamentary Nb3Sn wires

A series of Nb3Sn monofilamentary wires wre prepared both by cold hydrostatic extrusion and wire drawing. The bronze to niobium ratios of these conductors varied from 2 to 18. A comparison between the two fabrication processes shows that hydrostatic extrusion shortens the manufacturing procedure. Strain tolerance of J/sub c/ at 4.20 K and 8T for the hydrostatically extruded wires compares favorably with the drawn material. The bronze niobium interface, the Nb3Sn growth rate and the microhardness of the constituents are also investigated.