News Release

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. has delivered the new cables used for superconducting magnets that are being constructed under the High Magnetic Field Collaboratory Plan In collaboration with Tohoku University (Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture), Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. has developed the world's first Nb-rod-processed Copper-Niobium (hereinafter CuNb) reinforced niobium-tin (hereinafter, Nb₃Sn) superconducting cable that can be wound after heat treatment for Nb₃Sn generation(react and wind method).

This superconducting cable is going to be used as a main component in the Non-Refrigerated 25T (Tesla) Superconducting Magnet^{(notes 1)} that is under construction at Tohoku University based on the High Magnetic Field Collaboratory Plan^{(notes 2)}, a Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology project.

Nb₃Sn superconducting cables with a high critical magnetic field are currently being used for superconducting magnets that generate a strong magnetic field. These Nb₃Sn superconducting cables are extremely fragile, and an addition of about 1% distortion would break the Nb₃Sn and impede the flow of electric current.

In order to prevent a decline in performance, generally, heat treatment is performed in a large furnace (from several dozen hours to several hundred hours at 600 – 700°C) for Nb₃Sn generation after winding for use as superconducting magnets, to ensure that no distortion is added to the Nb₃Sn generated. In this manufacturing method, a large heat-treatment furnace is needed to apply heat treatment uniformly to the entire magnet, and there were a number of constraints in the production process, including heat resistance required for parts such as bobbins and the like.

In collaboration with Tohoku University, Furukawa Electric has successfully developed the world’s first CuNb reinforced Nb₃Sn superconducting cable that is distortion resistant, and that can be wound after heat treatment for Nb₃Sn generation, and we delivered mass produced products with a gross length of 7.8 kilometers to TOSHIBA CORPORATION in March of this year. Because the newly developed superconducting cable does not require heat treatment in the form of a magnet, the superconducting magnet manufacturing process is simplified, providing for cost reductions.

It is expected that the newly developed cable will be used for the 30T magnet and 50T hybrid magnet, which aim at generating stronger magnetic fields, in the High Magnetic Field Collaboratory Plan, and the cable also has great potential such as applying it to the existing consumer NMR^{(notes 3)} to replace Nb₃Sn cables using the conventional method.

Due to the record snowfall in February this year, there was damage at our Nikko offices, including part of the roof collapsing in the factory. The manufacturing equipment used to make CuNb reinforced Nb₃Sn superconducting cables was damaged, but we are continuing with manufacturing by contracting out part of the manufacturing process, and we are striving toward a full recovery. We will continue to develop superconducting technologies with excellent performance to contribute to the development of state-of-the-art technologies.

Furukawa Electric (TSE; 5801, ISIN; JP3827200001) Group started business in 1884, when its copper-smelting facility and wire manufacturing factory was established. Since then Furukawa Electric has become pioneers in the latest technologies by addressing diverse technological issues.
Furukawa Electric has released products in a number of areas, including telecommunications, electronics, automobiles, and construction, with the three types of materials it works with at their core, namely, optics, plastics, and metals. Many of these products have attained the top global market share, and all of its products have contributed to society in numerous business areas. Furukawa Electric reported consolidated revenues of JPY 931.8 billion (approximately USD 9.3B) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.