Effect of β-phase decomposition on the superconducting properties of Ti-27 at percent Nb solid solution

The effect of β-phase decomposition on the superconducting transition temperature (Tsub(c)) of a Ti-27 at % Nb solid solution has been studied by the resistive technique. The samples were β-quenched from 900deg C and cold rolled to 30%. Annealing at 400deg C for various times upto 15 hours causes Ti-rich phases to precipitate out of the matrix. This decomposition of the β-phase is seen to lead to a progressive enhancement in Tsub(c) from 7.7 K in the β-quenched state to 8.8 K in the sample annealed for 15 hours; further, the width Δ Tsub(c) of the superconducting transition (=90 mK in the β-quenched state) reaches a maximum value (360 mK) for a 10-hour anneal. The conjecture that the enhancement in Tsub(c) occurs as a result of precipitation and the consequent enrichment of the Nb content of the matrix is examined. It is estimated that to account for the large observed enhancement of Tsub(c), the Nb enrichment would have to be of the order of 5-6%; whereas a TEM study has revealed the enrichment to be of the order of 0.2% only. Analysis of the X-ray diffractograms is also not in favour of this hypothesis. Hence alternative mechanisms to account for the Tsub(c) enhancement are currently under investigation. Also discussed is the calculation of Tsub(c) using McMillan's formula for strongly coupled superconductors. (author)