Nb3Sn Image Gallery

Schematic and Powerpoint

Thumbnail View	Image Link	Description
	pptx (silent) - 3MB pptx(not silent) - 5.3MB	Animated Powerpoint slide showing a deep metallographic zoom into an ITER CS conductor after testing in the high field zone of the SULTAN testing facility. Images by Charlie Sanabria. SULTAN-tested cable was provided by courtesy of Pierluigi Bruzzone (Plasma Physics Research Center) with agreement from Fusion for Energy. The CSJA2 cable was also provided by arrangement with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Superconductor Technology Group, Division of Fusion Energy Technology. This is a considerably extended version of a slide originally presented as part of talk 3OrBB-07 by Peter J. Lee at MT-23, Wednesday, July 17, 2013.
	pptx - 876KB	Animated Powerpoint slide showing the components of an ITER TF conductor. Images by Charlie Sanabria. SULTAN-tested cable was provided by courtesy of Pierluigi Bruzzone (Plasma Physics Research Center). Originally presented as part of talk "Understanding the Performance Degradation of CICC Conductors for ITER Under Testing in the SULTAN Facility" presented April 19th 2013 at NHMFL and 3OrBB-07 at MT-23, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 by Peter J. Lee.
	JPG - 1.3MB	ITER CS conductor after partial removal of the stainless steel jcket to reveal in the internal components. Images by Charlie Sanabria. SULTAN-tested cable was provided by courtesy of Pierluigi Bruzzone (Plasma Physics Research Center) with agreement from Fusion for Energy. Image by Charlie Sanabria is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://nationalmaglab.org/.
	JPG - 1.7MB	ITER TF conductor after partial removal of the stainless steel jcket to reveal in the internal components. Images by Charlie Sanabria. SULTAN-tested cable was provided by courtesy of Pierluigi Bruzzone (Plasma Physics Research Center) with agreement from Fusion for Energy. Image by Charlie Sanabria is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://nationalmaglab.org/.
	1024x909 382KB - JPG	2008 CICC Montage showing the components of a Superconducting Cable-In-Conduit Conductor for ITER. Also available as: 2.4 MB Powerpoint 374 kB Transparent GIF (1024w x 909h) 1.4 MB Transparent PNG (1024w x 909h) Higher resolution versions are available.
	1198x898 324KB - JPG	Older montage showing the components of a Superconducting Cable-In-Conduit for ITER Model Coil Program (1996). IGC-AS (now Luvata) strand shown. This older version still shows up in presentations and publications and is kept here for archival puroposes.
	1238x1414 100KB -PNG	Schematic diagram illustrating the four major designs of commercial Nb3Sn strand. Higher resolution versions available.
	616x584 171KB -PNG	Nb₃Sn forms a crystalline intermetallic compound with an A15 structure consisting of a BCC sub-lattice of Sn atoms and a pair of Nb atoms on each face. A15 Structure of Nb3Sn by Charlie Sanabria is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://nationalmaglab.org/.

2D Images

Thumbnail View	Image Link	Description
	588x831 132KB - JPG	A fracture cross-section of a partially reacted Nb3Sn filament (TWC MJR strand). MJR (modified jelly-roll) is a type of internal-Sn strand that is no longer manufactured.
	424x608 128KB - JPG	Golden Ears of Nb₃Sn Corn II (IGC-AS Internal Sn ITER strand). Occasionally the fracture-cross-section process pulls out a filament and exposes the surface facets of the outermost Nb3Sn grains.† [False-color]
	1231x829 941KB - JPG 1024x692 327KB - JPG	False color fractograph of SMI PIT Nb3Sn A15 layer. FESEM image colored for effect (a rejected image for the annual ASC Holiday/New Year card). Unreacted strand supplied to the UW by Shapemetal Innovation B. V., Enschede, The Netherlands.
	2462x1817 1.7MB - JPG 1024x756 129KB - JPG	False color image of filaments in polished cross-section of Furukawa ITER Nb3Sn strand. Note the exceptional uniformity and the barely discernable extra spacing between the original bundles of 19 filaments.
	2462x1817 3.4MB - JPG 1024x756 339KB - JPG	Another false color variant on the Furukawa ITER strand. The unreacted Nb cores (green) are more visible here. FESEM image.
	616x480 171KB - JPG 616x480 64KB - JPG	False color images of Nb₃Sn filament extracted for IGC-AS ITER strand. FESEM image. The filament as approximately 1/25 the thickness of a sheet of paper.
	1447x768 698KB - JPG 1024x544 176KB - JPG	Montage showing design of IGC-AS high J_c (critical current density) internal Sn strand. Heat treated strand supplied to the UW by IGC-Advanced Superconductors, Waterbury, CT.
	1515x1447 849KMB - JPG 804x768 131KB - JPG	Deep etch of IGC-AS internal Sn strand (Cu removed by etch).
	1536x874 773KB - JPG 1024x582 144KB - JPG	False color FESEM image of deep-etch IGC-AS Nb3Sn strand.
	980x720 78KB - JPG 980x720 19KB - JPG	A windows background image showing Nb₃Sn filaments exposed by deep Cu etch.
	1828x1806 119KB - GIF 759x761 138KB - JPG	False color image showing filaments in unreacted MJR sub-element: TWC MJR Nb₃Sn.
	1229x905 523KB - JPG 1024x754 139KB - JPG	Etch cross-section of LMI Nb₃Sn strand for ITER showing partially reacted filaments with columnar interior A15 grains. FESEM.
	642x391 523KB - JPG 642x391 48KB - JPG	False color image of fully reacted filament from LMI-ITER Nb₃Sn strand.
	2179x1582 1.3MB - JPG 1020x744 124KB - JPG	LMI strand for ITER. Etched partial cross-section showing three filaments adjacent to the diffusion barrier. FESEM.
	1260x960 1.3MB - JPG 1008x768 217KB - JPG	Light microscope image of LMI Nb₃Sn prototype strand for ITER showing sub-elements of Nb₃Sn filaments surrounded by diffusion barriers.
	2462x1854 1.6MB - JPG 1020x768 254KB - JPG	A really big FESEM fractograph of a Mitsubishi prototype Nb₃Sn strand for ITER. The filaments from this composite were particularly uniform and the properties were the best of the ITER developmental program.
	925x953 540KB - JPG 748x768 86KB - JPG	A polished transverse cross-section of a Mitsubishi ITER Nb₃Sn strand has been imaged by FESEM and then analyzed for filament size, uniformity and distribution (which in this case is particularly good). The analyzed filaments are highlighted in green.
	1536x460 428KB - JPG 1024x520 161KB - JPG	False color fractograph of OI-ST high critical current density MJR Nb₃Sn A15 layer. The strand has been ramped to final heat treatment temperature but has received its final HT. The Cu (red) and A15 (gold) colors have been added to help distinguish the components. FESEM. Unreacted strand supplied to the UW by Oxford Instruments Inc. - Superconducting Technology, Carteret, NJ.
	1024x810 167KB - JPG 1024x520 161KB - JPG	False color electron backscatter image of bulk Nb₃Sn produced by HIP'ing powders at the UW-Madison. This is a two phase region with unreacted Nb in purple and Nb₃Sn in green. FESEM.
	1384x1080 838KB - JPG 984x768 224KB - JPG	False color image of VAC bronze process Nb₃Sn filament after partial reaction. This highly distorted filament is unrepresentative of the otherwise excellent composite but of course it looks more interesting. FESEM. Strand courtesy of Vacuumschmelze GMBH, Hanau, Germany.
	1024x699 411KB - JPG 1024x699 245KB - JPG	Transverse cross-section of VAC bronze-process Nb₃Sn strand superimposed on detail showing filaments of Nb₃Sn in sub-element groupings. FESEM. Strand courtesy of Vacuumschmelze GMBH, Hanau, Germany
	2048x1536 1.5MB - JPG 984x768 225KB - JPG	False color image of Nb₃Sn filaments in a IGC-AS strand exposed by a deep Cu etch.
	1536x460 428KB - JPG	Superconductor Rope Trick. For high magnetic field use, multifilamentary strands must be twisted so that eddy current losses, and flux jump and self-field instabilities are minimized. This produces the twisted rope appearance when viewed in longitudinal cross-section (FESEM-Electron Backscatter Image) of this Nb₃Sn strand manufactured by IGC-AS (now Outokumpu Advanced Superconductors).
	1024x1280 689KB - JPG	Strand used to produce record high field (16.1 T, 4.2 K). accelerator dipole magnet at LBNL. The strand has been fractured and imaged using an in-lens secondary electron detector in a FESEM in order to reveal grain size. The red and green channels have been processed by "Difference of Gaussians" and "Local Equalization" under Fovea Pro in order to enhance grain boundary contrast. The petal-like pattern originates from the original Nb filaments that were fused together during the reaction to for Nb3Sn. Strand manufactured by OI-ST and heat treated by Dan Dietderich and Ron Scanlan at LBNL.

3D Images

These image are vieweable in 3D using traditional red-blue glasses (typical of glasses used for 1950s horror movies).

The yellow/blue glasses provide better 3D viewing of color images and are provided free at the Applied Superconductivity Center during the annual Open House. You may also have these cardboard glasses from advertising promotions.

Thumbnail View	Image Link	Description
	480x613 289KB - JPG	A fracture cross-section of a partially reacted Nb3Sn filament (TWC MJR strand). MJR (modified jelly-roll) is a type of internal-Sn strand that is no longer manufactured.
	2137x3086 4MB - JPG 532x768 164KB - JPG	Golden Ears of Nb₃Sn Corn II (IGC-AS Internal Sn ITER strand). Occasionally the fracture-cross-section process pulls out a filament and exposes the surface facets of the outermost Nb3Sn grains.† [False-color]
	1381x1972 1.2MB - JPG 538x768 73KB - JPG	False color fractograph of SMI PIT Nb3Sn A15 layer. FESEM image colored for effect (a rejected image for the annual ASC Holiday/New Year card). Unreacted strand supplied to the UW by Shapemetal Innovation B. V., Enschede, The Netherlands.
	2838x872 638KB - JPG 1024x314 121KB - JPG	False color image of filaments in polished cross-section of Furukawa ITER Nb3Sn strand. Note the exceptional uniformity and the barely discernable extra spacing between the original bundles of 19 filaments.
	911x594 560KB - JPG 911x594 126KB - JPG	Another false color variant on the Furukawa ITER strand. The unreacted Nb cores (green) are more visible here. FESEM image.
	3020x1330 2MB - JPG 1024x450 165KB - JPG	False color images of Nb₃Sn filament extracted for IGC-AS ITER strand. FESEM image. The filament as approximately 1/25 the thickness of a sheet of paper.
	1393x1125 1MB - JPG 950x768 186KB - JPG	Montage showing design of IGC-AS high J_c (critical current density) internal Sn strand. Heat treated strand supplied to the UW by IGC-Advanced Superconductors, Waterbury, CT.
	2304x3052 2.7MB - JPG 580x768 142KB - JPG	Deep etch of IGC-AS internal Sn strand (Cu removed by etch).
	1919x3124 1.9MB - JPG 472x768 81KB - JPG	False color FESEM image of deep-etch IGC-AS Nb3Sn strand.
	1510x1083 1.3MB - JPG 1024x735 170KB - JPG	A windows background image showing Nb₃Sn filaments exposed by deep Cu etch.
	4698x2349 1.6MB - JPG 1024x515 151KB - JPG	False color image showing filaments in unreacted MJR sub-element: TWC MJR Nb₃Sn.
	1024x695 997KB - JPG 1024x695 507KB - JPG	Etch cross-section of LMI Nb₃Sn strand for ITER showing partially reacted filaments with columnar interior A15 grains. FESEM.
	699x916 250KB - JPG 586x768 141KB - JPG	False color image of fully reacted filament from LMI-ITER Nb₃Sn strand.
	680x1011 609KB - JPG 516x767 115KB - JPG	LMI strand for ITER. Etched partial cross-section showing three filaments adjacent to the diffusion barrier. FESEM.
	708x1015 385KB - JPG 708x1015 1.8MB - TIF	Light microscope image of LMI Nb₃Sn prototype strand for ITER showing sub-elements of Nb₃Sn filaments surrounded by diffusion barriers.
	3020x1330 5MB - JPG 1024x450 166KB - JPG	A really big FESEM fractograph of a Mitsubishi prototype Nb₃Sn strand for ITER. The filaments from this composite were particularly uniform and the properties were the best of the ITER developmental program.
	2073x3146 4.4MB - JPG 506x768 118KB - JPG	A polished transverse cross-section of a Mitsubishi ITER Nb₃Sn strand has been imaged by FESEM and then analyzed for filament size, uniformity and distribution (which in this case is particularly good). The analyzed filaments are highlighted in green.
	1751x1512 434KB - JPG 1024x767 208KB - JPG	False color fractograph of OI-ST high critical current density MJR Nb₃Sn A15 layer. The strand has been ramped to final heat treatment temperature but has received its final HT. The Cu (red) and A15 (gold) colors have been added to help distinguish the components. FESEM. Unreacted strand supplied to the UW by Oxford Instruments Inc. - Superconducting Technology, Carteret, NJ.
	6125x3081 2.7MB - JPG 1024x515 151KB - JPG	False color electron backscatter image of bulk Nb₃Sn produced by HIP'ing powders at the UW-Madison. This is a two phase region with unreacted Nb in purple and Nb₃Sn in green. FESEM.
	620x675 180KB - JPG	False color image of VAC bronze process Nb₃Sn filament after partial reaction. This highly distorted filament is unrepresentative of the otherwise excellent composite but of course it looks more interesting. FESEM. Strand courtesy of Vacuumschmelze GMBH, Hanau, Germany.
	765x760 153KB - JPG	Transverse cross-section of VAC bronze-process Nb₃Sn strand superimposed on detail showing filaments of Nb₃Sn in sub-element groupings. FESEM. Strand courtesy of Vacuumschmelze GMBH, Hanau, Germany

Videos and Animations

A different way to look at a hardness indent (in a multifilamentary Nb3Sn strand) as viewed using data from our Olympus OLS3100 Scanning Laser Confocal Microscope. Original image by Matt Jewell.

Last modified on 20 February 2023