Development of an Innovative Insulation for Nb3Sn Wind and React Coils

At the present time, Nb₃Sn is the best superconductor candidate for the realization of high field magnets (>10-11 teslas). However its implementation remains delicate because of the great brittleness of material after the heat treatment necessary to form the Nb₃Sn compounds. The conventional insulation for Nb₃Sn wind & react coils requires performing, after the heat treatment, a vacuum resin impregnation, which adds to the cost and raises failure risk. We propose a one-step innovating ceramic insulation deposited directly on the un-reacted conducting cable. The conducting cable is wound according to conventional techniques and, after the heat treatment necessary to the form the Nb₃Sn, we obtain a coil having a mechanical cohesion, while maintaining a proper conductor positioning and a suitable electric insulation. We will have studied the electric properties of superconducting cable isolated at the room temperature and at 4.2 K.