Tuning the Physical Properties of V-Ti-Ce Alloy Superconductors Through Successive Cold-Working and Annealing at 650 °C

V- Ti alloys are promising alternatives to Nb for the construction of superconducting solenoids that produce high magnetic fields. The critical current density (\(J_C\)), which quantifies the capacity of a superconductor to carry large dissipationless current, increases in the V-Ti alloys with the addition of Ce. Here, the effects of successive cold working and annealing on the electrical resistivity, \(J_C\), and microstructure of the V\(_{0.59}\)Ti\(_{0.40}\)Ce\(_{0.01}\) alloy are studied. The \(J_C\) is the maximum after the second cold rolling. Annealing at 650 \(^{\circ }\)C is found to nucleate and grow the \(\alpha \)-phase which is detrimental to \(J_C\), whereas the precipitation of the \(\alpha '\)-phase is found to improve the \(J_C\).