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

The performance of Nb₃Sn 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 Nb₃Sn or conduit alloys for the thermal expansion/contraction that occurs during reaction heat treatments. Thermal expansion measurements of two contemporary Nb₃Sn 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 Nb₃Sn superconductors and conduit alloys that can be used in magnet design and predictive modeling.