465 research outputs found
The critical current density of advanced internal-Mg-diffusion-processed MgB2 wires
Recent advances in MgB2 conductors are leading to a new level of performance.
Based on the use of proper powders, proper chemistry, and an architecture which
incorporates internal Mg diffusion (IMD), a dense MgB2 structure with not only
a high critical current density Jc, but also a high engineering critical
current density, Je, can be obtained. In this paper, a series of these advanced
(or second - generation, "2G") conductors has been prepared. Scanning electron
microscopy and associated energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were applied to
characterize the microstructures and compositions of the wires, and a dense
MgB2 layer structure was observed. The best layer Jc for our sample is 1.07x105
A/cm2 at 10 T, 4.2 K, and our best Je is seen to be 1.67x104 A/cm2 at 10 T, 4.2
K. Optimization of the transport properties of these advanced wires is
discussed in terms of B-powder choice, area fraction, and the MgB2 layer growth
mechanism.Comment: 13 pages, 3 tables, 7 figures (or 8 pp in published version
Drawing induced texture and the evolution of superconductive properties with heat treatment time in powder-in-tube in-situ processed MgB2 strands
Monocore powder-in-tube MgB2 strands were cold-drawn and heat-treated at 600C
and 700C for times of up to 71 hours and structure-property relationships
examined. Drawing-induced elongation of the Mg particles led, after HT, to a
textured macrostructure consisting of elongated polycrystalline MgB2 fibers
separated by elongated pores. The superconducting Tc, Jc and Fp were correlated
with the macrostructure and grain size. Grain size increased with HT time at
both 600C and 700C. Jc and hence Fp decreased monotonically but not linearly
with grain size. Overall, it was observed that at 700C, the MgB2 reaction was
more or less complete after as little as 30 min; at 600C, full reaction
completion did not occur until 71 h. into the HT. Transport, Jct(B) was
measured in a perpendicular applied field, and the magnetic critical current
densities, Jcm\bot(B) and Jcm{\phi}(B), were measured in perpendicular and
parallel (axial) applied fields, respectively. Particularly noticeable was the
premature dropoff of Jcm\bot(B) at fields well below the irreversibility field
of Jct(B). This effect is attributed to the fibrous macrostructure and its
accompanying anisotropic connectivity. Magnetic measurements with the field
directed along the strand axis yielded a critical density, Jcm\bot(B), for
current flowing transversely to the strand axis that was less than and dropped
off more rapidly than Jct(B). In the conventional magnetic measurement, the
loop currents that support the magnetization are restricted by the lower of
Jct(B) and Jcm{\phi} (B). In the present case the latter, leading to the
premature dropoff of the measured Jcm(B) compared to Jct(B) with increasing
field. This result is supported by Kramer plots of the Jcm{\phi} (B) and Jct(B)
data which lead to an irreversibility field for transverse current that is very
much less than the usual transport-measured longitudinal one, Birr,t.Comment: 41 pages, 14 figure
Doping Effect and Flux Pinning Mechanism of Nano-SiC Additions in MgB2 Strands
Superconducting MgB2 strands with nanometer-scale SiC additions have been
investigated systematically using transport and magnetic measurements. A
comparative study of MgB2 strands with different nano-SiC addition levels has
shown C-doping-enhanced critical current density Jc through enhancements in the
upper critical field, Hc2, and decreased anisotropy. The critical current
density and flux pinning force density obtained from magnetic measurements were
found to greatly differ from the values obtained through transport
measurements, particularly with regards to magnetic field dependence. The
differences in magnetic and transport results are largely attributed to
connectivity related effects. On the other hand, based on the scaling behavior
of flux pinning force, there may be other effective pinning centers in MgB2
strands in addition to grain boundary pinning.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl
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