Materials for superconducting magnets

Large superconducting magnets for fusion technology require a broad spectrum of materials with special electrical, thermodynamical, and mechanical properties. The mechanical characterization of the used materials at the low temperature environment is indispensable for a predictable engineering design. In recent years two sophisticated and economical material testing facilities, working at liquid helium environment were designed at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe for the measurements of tensile, fracture, and fatigue behavior to establish a design data base for the tasks LCT, POLO, W 7-X, and ITER model coils. (orig.)