Magnesium Diboride Conductor Development at Supercon, Inc.

Abstract

Supercon has recently investigated the fabrication of magnesium diboride wires and tapes. The primary purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of a combined ex‐situ and in‐situ approach, but included impurity doping in order to develop flux pinning sites. A matrix of conductor processing steps was explored. Microstructures were characterized and critical current densities were measured. The ultimate goal of the effort was to develop fabrication methods for high performance magnesium diboride conductors. Such conductors have the potential for use in a wide range of applications, including cryocooled magnets for magnetic resonance imaging systems, hydrogen cooled power systems, and high field magnets operating at liquid helium temperature, possibly as a replacement for Nb3Sn superconductors. Current results of the development effort will be discussed and conductor performance characteristics will be given.