Processing of magnesium-boride superconductors
AssigneeAmerican Superconductor Corporation
InventorsCornelis L. Thieme, Martin W. Rupich, Alexander Otto, Gilbert N. Riley JR.
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Abstract
Processes for the fabrication of MgB2 powder and wires are provided. Powders are produced by mechanically alloying magnesium- and boron-containing precursors under controlled conditions to avoid secondary phase and impurity formation. Powders are also prepared by vapor phase reaction of volatile magnesium- and boron-containing precursors. Wires, tapes, films and coatings are provided.
Claims41
A method of making a magnesium boride superconductor, comprising:
- combining magnesium-containing and boron-containing precursors to form a homogeneous mixture of magnesium- and boron-containing powders, said combining step carried out under an inert or reducing environment.
A method of making a magnesium boride superconductor, comprising:
- combining magnesium-containing and boron-containing precursors to form a homogeneous magnesium- and boron-containing powder, said combining step carried out under an inert or reducing environment,
- wherein at least one of the magnesium-containing and boron-containing precursors is a vapor in the combining step.
A method of forming a thin film magnesium boride superconductor, comprising:
- contacting a vapor of magnesium-containing compound and vapor of a boron-containing compound with a heated surface, whereby a magnesium boride layer is deposited on the surface.
A method of forming a thin film magnesium boride superconductor, comprising:
- depositing a boron layer onto a substrate;
- and
- contacting a vapor of a magnesium-containing compound with the boron layer, whereby a magnesium boride layer is deposited on the surface.
An MgB2 superconducting article comprising:
- a mechanically alloyed powder core comprising magnesium and boron.
An superconducting article comprised of one or more elongated metal matrix regions containing one or more embedded elongated superconducting regions running the full length of the article, and comprised of proportions of approximately 53 weight % Mg and 47 weight % B with a density greater than 95% of the theoretical density, and a transition temperature in zero field of 30 K to 30 K.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.