Method of processing superconducting materials and its products
AssigneeUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation
InventorsKenji Okazaki, Robert J. De Angelis, Charles E. Hamrin, Jr.
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Abstract
A method for fabricating relatively dense monoliths of superconducting material and relatively dense composite monoliths of superconducting material and binder material. The method includes the steps of placing the material to be processed in a die. A relatively high pressure is then applied to the material. Substantially simultaneously, an electrical discharge is applied to the material. The discharge is of a relatively high voltage and current density to provide sharp bonding while maintaining the superconducting properties of the material in the monolith product. A product fabricated by the present method is also described.
Claims14
A method of processing a superconducting material having oxygen positioned within a lattice structure into a dense monolith utilizing a die, comprising the steps of:
- placing the superconducting material into said die;
- applying a relatively high pressure of substantially 1.0 to 15.0 ksi to said material in said die;
- and
- substantially simultaneously with the application of pressure applying an electrical discharge to said material to generate sufficient heat for bonding, said electrical discharge having a relatively high voltage of substantially 5.0 to 30.0 kV and a relatively high current density of substantially 322.5 to 6450.0 kA/in.sup.2 whereby said material is rapidly bonded together so as to maintain oxygen in position in the superconducting lattice;
- said bonded material also having sufficient mass so that the heat is rapidly dissipated by self quenching whereby the superconducting properties of the superconducting material are maintained.
A method of processing a superconducting material and a bundle material into a dense composite monolith utilizing a die, comprising the steps of:
- placing the superconducting material and binder material into said die;
- applying a relatively high pressure of substantially 1.0 to 15.0 ksi to said material in said die;
- and
- substantially simultaneously with the application of pressure applying an electrical discharge to said material, said electrical discharge having a relatively high voltage of substantially 5.0 to 30.0 kV and a relatively high current density of substantially 322.5 to 6450.0 kA/in.sup.2 whereby sufficient heat is rapidly provided particularly along superconducting material and binder material interfaces for bonding said materials together;
- said bonded material also having sufficient mass so that the heat is rapidly dissipated by self quenching whereby the superconducting properties of the superconducting material are maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.