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4w ago

Durham Publishes Large-Scale Verification of ITER Superconducting Strands, Establishing Reliable Testing Method

The validated dataset gives manufacturers a practical cross-check for Nb3Sn that cannot be retested.

The team tested over 5,500 wire samples, performing roughly 13,000 measurements in the process.

Overview

  • Durham, an official ITER reference lab since 2011, processed over 5,500 samples and about 13,000 measurements on Nb3Sn and Nb–Ti strands.
  • Nb3Sn required heat treatment above 650°C before testing, preventing repeat measurements on the same piece.
  • Statistical analysis shows adjacent strands tested across laboratories can substitute for remeasuring a single strand, improving QA and reducing uncertainty.
  • Results confirm strand quality for ITER’s high-current magnets, with data and protocols published in Superconductor Science and Technology as an open resource.
  • The work comes as fusion efforts gain pace, with ITER assembly progressing and companies announcing early fusion power deals alongside UK funding for its STEP prototype.