Method of obtaining an intermetallic compound of niobium and tin in fabricated form

An article having a continuous superconductive layer of Nb3Sn over at least part of its surface is produced by electrophoretically depositing a layer of tin powder on to a niobium support, e.g. sheet, foil or wire, cold-working e.g.-rolling the coated support, preferably with a reduction of at least 50%, and heating it between 900 and 1600 DEG C. in a non-oxidising atmosphere e.g. inert gas or vacuum to react the tin with the support to form the Nb3Sn layer. To increase adherence of the tin powder layer prior to cold-working the coated support may be heated between 750 and 1600 DEG C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere or vacuum. Electrophoresis may be effected from a suspension of tin powder of particle size less than 0.76 mm in a stirred liquid containing by weight 2% zein zein, 0.3 g/1 aluminium nitrate and equal parts nitromethane and isopropylalcohol, using a platinized Ti anode. The Nb support may be a layer on another metal such as Cu.