Niobium Titanium Superconducting Alloy
The Niobium Titanium Superconducting Alloy provided by China Super Tech Co., Ltd. is produced through a combination of true vacuum electric arc furnace melting and casting, along with 90% or more cold processing deformation and heat treatment at temperatures below 400°C. This process results in uniform distribution of α-Ti precipitated phases (4–6nm) within the alloy. At a current density of over 10⁵ A/cm² and in a 4.2K, 5T magnetic field, the performance is outstanding. The product is available in forms such as wire, sheet, rod, and tube, and is used in high-end fields such as MRI, particle accelerators, and nuclear fusion.
- Product Introduction
Features
1.High ductility, far exceeding that of similar superconducting materials
Nickel-titanium alloy is one of the few superconductors that can be drawn into fine wires. This is because niobium and titanium can be infinitely miscible in the solid state, forming a continuous solid solution rather than brittle intermetallic compounds. By controlling the cold processing path, we can make the wire as thin as 1.4mm in diameter and 0.15mm in thickness without breaking - something that materials like Nb₃Sn cannot achieve.
2. The critical magnetic field reaches up to 15T, covering the majority of application scenarios.
Our low-temperature aging process precisely controls the α-Ti precipitated phase within the range of 4–6nm. This size is the optimal interval for generating the strongest anchoring force, directly determining that the alloy can still maintain the superconducting state under strong magnetic fields. 4.2K is the maximum application field, which can reach up to 10T, exceeding the requirements of MRI (1.5–3T) and most accelerators.
3. Yield strength: 400–500 MPa, close to that of steel
The superconducting magnets are subjected to tremendous electromagnetic forces during operation, and ordinary superconducting materials are prone to deformation and failure. Our alloy achieves a dislocation density of 5×10¹⁴–2×10¹⁵ m⁻² through large deformation cold processing and aging treatment, with a strength approaching that of structural steel, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the magnets.
4. The cost is only about half that of Nb₃Sn.
The raw material of niobium-titanium is abundant and the process is mature. There is no need for the high-temperature reaction heat treatment like that of Nb₃Sn (650–700℃ for several weeks), which significantly reduces the manufacturing cost and cycle.
Applications
1.Medical MRI magnetic resonance imaging system
The MRI system needs to generate a stable magnetic field of 1.5–3T under 4.2K liquid helium. The Curie temperature of niobium-titanium (Tc = 9.5K) precisely matches the temperature range of liquid helium, and it has good ductility, allowing it to be wound into complex coils. Its cost is also controllable. Up to now, the vast majority of MRI superconducting magnets worldwide still use niobium-titanium wire.
2. Large Particle Accelerators
The accelerator needs to transmit extremely high currents under extremely strong magnetic fields. Our alloy has a current density of ≥ 10⁵ A/cm² at 5T and 4.2K, and can support the superconducting magnets of kilometer-scale accelerators to operate continuously for several years without any degradation.
3. Nuclear fusion experimental device (such as the central solenoid of ITER)
The poloidal field coils of ITER operate in a 4K, 3T environment. Nitinol maintains stable performance after tens of thousands of thermal cycles under these conditions, and its radiation resistance is superior to that of most alternative materials. This is the core reason why ITER chose nitinol.
4. Superconducting Transmission Cables and Magnetic Levitation
The zero-resistance property means no Joule heat loss. After the niobium-titanium coating is applied to the copper matrix, even if partial superconductivity fails, the copper can divert the current to protect it, making it suitable for long-distance high-current transmission and high-speed magnetic levitation with strong magnetic field requirements.
Specifications
|
Parameter |
Value |
|
Material |
Niobium Titanium Alloy (NbTi) |
|
Nb Content |
45–55 wt% |
|
Ti Content |
Balance |
|
Purity Level |
Up to 99.9% |
|
Density |
Approx. 6.0–6.5 g/cm³ |
|
Critical Temperature (Tc) |
Approx. 9.2 K |
|
Operating Temperature |
Typically 4.2 K |
|
Product Forms |
Rod, Bar, Billet, Wire, Sheet, Tube |
|
Diameter Range |
Customized |
|
Thickness Range |
Customized |
|
Surface Condition |
Machined, Ground, Polished |
|
Manufacturing Method |
Vacuum Melting + Thermomechanical Processing |
|
Standard |
ASTM / Customer Specification |
|
Customization Service |
Available |
FAQ
What are the differences between NbTi and Nb₃Sn (niobium tin) superconducting alloys? Which one should I choose?
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For the selection of NbTi: Working magnetic field ≤ 10T, requiring good processing plasticity, and seeking cost-effectiveness. NbTi can be made into multi-core wire through traditional drawing process, and its cost is only about 1/3 of Nb₃Sn. 80% of the global superconducting magnets (mainly MRI) use NbTi.
For the selection of Nb₃Sn: The working magnetic field needs to exceed 12T (such as high-field physics experiments). However, Nb₃Sn is a brittle material, and it must undergo high-temperature reaction heat treatment after being finished. The process difficulty and cost are much higher than those of NbTi.
In simple terms: For magnetic fields below 10T, choosing NbTi is the most economical and reliable solution.
Why must NbTi be used at liquid helium temperature? Can liquid nitrogen be used instead?
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The critical temperature Tc of NbTi is approximately 9.5K (-263.65°C), while the temperature of liquid nitrogen is 77K (-196°C), which is much higher than Tc. The material is in a normal state at liquid nitrogen temperature and has no superconducting properties. Only by using liquid helium (4.2K) can it enter the superconducting state. This is why NbTi is classified as a "low-temperature superconducting material". If operation at the liquid nitrogen temperature range is required, high-temperature superconducting materials (such as YBCO) need to be considered, but their processing difficulty and cost are currently much higher than those of NbTi.
What are the differences between your NbTi alloy and the products of Western Superconductor?
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Our differentiation lies in the flexibility of customization and the overall service capabilities. Western Superconductor mainly produces standardized batch products, while China Super Tech Co., Ltd. specializes in reverse customization of components and heat treatment processes based on customer magnet design - for example, adjusting the titanium content to 47.3% instead of the standard 46.5% or 50% for specific field strength requirements. Through the equiaxed crystal high uniformity melting technology, the component fluctuation is reduced to within ±0.3%. At the same time, we provide one-stop delivery from ingot to finished wire, reducing the supplier management costs for customers.
How long is the delivery cycle? What is the minimum order quantity?
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For standard grades (Nb-46.5Ti / Nb-50Ti) bars, the regular inventory can be delivered within 7 to 15 working days. Customized compositions require an additional 15 to 20 working days (including secondary smelting verification). Minimum order quantity: Bars start from 50kg, wire rods start from 10km. Large-volume orders (bars ≥ 500kg) can be negotiated for priority production.
How do you ensure consistent performance of each batch of products?
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We follow the batch management principle of "same ingot → same reduction process → same heat treatment parameters" (in line with the ASTM B884 batch definition). Each batch of products comes with a complete test report, including Tc, Jc, composition analysis, and non-destructive testing results. If the customer has special requirements for a certain indicator, the acceptance criteria can be agreed upon in the contract. For non-conforming products, double sampling re-inspection is supported.
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