Cryogenic Properties of Austenitic Stainless Steels for Superconducting Magnet

Abstract

In the field of high-energy physics, large-scale high-energy particle accelerators are either under construction or planning, where the “Wind-and-React” process is possibly applied to employ Nb₃Sn superconductor instead of NbTi for the production of over five-tesla-class superconducting magnet. This process necessitates the structural materials with favored properties at cryogenic temperatures before and after Nb₃Sn precipitation heat treatment. The present study is carried out to examine the magnetic and mechanical properties of a variety of austenitic stainless steels and high manganese steel which are both considered as candidate structural materials for superconducting magnet attached to high energy particle accelerator and other superconducting applied technologies. In particular attention is paid to the effect of a specified heat treatment for the precipitation of intermetallic compound Nb₃Sn to be used as superconductor on the properties such as ductility and toughness as well as serength at lower temperatures.