HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS FOR OXIDE SUPERCONDUCTING WIRE

摘要

This invention provides a heat treatment apparatus for an oxide superconducting wire that is easy to control atmosphere during baking and can realize a high manufacturing speed. A heat treatment apparatus (1) comprises a heat treating furnace (4) and a cylindrical rotator (5), rotatable about a horizontal rotating axis, provided within the heat treating furnace (4). The rotator (5) in its cylindrical body (5a) have a number of through-holes (5b) formed evenly over the whole surface of the cylindrical body (5a). One end of the cylindrical body (5a) is hermetically sealed by a lid. On the other end, a gas discharge pipe (7) for discharging gas within the cylindrical body to the outside of the heat treating furnace (4) is connected to the lid. A plurality of gas supply pipes (8) are symmetrically provided separately from each other on the outer surface of the cylindrical body (5a). A number of gas jet holes are formed in each of the gas supply pipe (8) so as to jet atmosphere gas toward the surface of the cylindrical body. A tape-shaped wire (6) formed of a precursor film of a YBCO superconducting layer is wound around the rotator (5) for heat treatment for superconductor formation.