Recent developments in NbTi superconductors at Vacuumschmelze

Superconductors based on NbTi have been recently the most widely used conductors for superconducting magnet. The fabrication technology of monofilamentary and multifilamentary conductors in a Cu matrix has reached a very high standard mainly in conjunction with the applications in analytical measuring techniques using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and in medicine using magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI). The specific requirements of NbTi for the fields of NMR/MRI, particle accelerator technology, nuclear fusion, and power generators are briefly discussed. The state of the art of conductor technology is described by presenting the parameters and the performance of conductors produced or developed for recently completed or ongoing projects. Areas for further research and development are identified.