Process for non-destructive heat treatment of spooled silver coated high temperature superconductor

A method for heat processing a superconductor wire (11) which has a protective silver cladding (26) includes the steps of attaching the coated wire (12) to a spool (60) and then rotating the spool (60) to wind the wire (12) around the spool (60) in juxtaposed coils (70). As the wire (12) is being wound around the spool (60), the portions of the wire (11) which are not yet coiled are drawn through a container (34) which holds a paint (38) that contains a silver diffusion inhibiting material. The diffusion inhibiting material is consequently deposited onto the silver cladding (26) of the superconductor wire (11), and the coiled wire (12) is subsequently placed in a furnace (74). The wire (12) is heat processed in the furnace (74) as appropriate for the particular type of superconductor material. The diffusion inhibitor material prevents diffusion of silver during the heat processing between portions of the wire (12) which contact each other.