Patent ID: 8914087

Claim:
A method for joining first and second superconducting wires, each wire comprising a number of filaments which each comprise a superconductive core within a respective sheath, the filaments being embedded within a matrix, the superconductive cores comprising MgB 2 , and the sheaths comprising elemental Nb, comprising the steps of: over a certain length of the filaments of each wire, removing the matrix to expose the filaments; immersing the exposed filaments in molten Sn such that the elemental Nb of the sheaths within said certain length is converted to Nb 3 Sn throughout a thickness of the sheaths; and within said certain length providing a superconductive path between the superconductive cores of filaments of the first wire through the respective Nb 3 Sn sheaths of the first wire to the superconductive cores of the filaments of the second wire through the respective Nb 3 Sn sheaths of the second wire.