John D. DeFouw

In situ synthesis of superconducting MgB2 fibers within a magnesium matrix

Composite wires, consisting of several hundred continuous MgB2 fibers embedded within an Mg matrix, are produced by a casting method, whereby liquid Mg is pressure infiltrated into a preform of aligned B fibers which are subsequently reacted in situ to form MgB2 fibers. Despite defects in the form of small, unreacted B islands and radial cracks from volume expansion, the MgB2 fibers exhibit superconducting properties (Tc=39 K and Jc=360 kA/cm2 at 5 K) comparable to the best results published for bulk MgB2. The fibers are cylindrical and straight, allowing high packing densities within a mechanically tough, thermally dissipating, electrically conductive Mg matrix. The process is scalable to continuous lengths of superconducting Mg/MgB2 wires.

The Effect of Dopant Additions on the Microstructure of Boron Fibers Before and After Reaction to MgB2

Boron fibers made by a commercial chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process have been used as precursors for the formation of magnesium diboride (MgB2) superconducting wires. Prior to a reaction with magnesium, the addition of dopants such as carbon and titanium to the boron fiber has been shown to enhance the superconducting properties of MgB2. These dopants also influence the kinetics of the reaction with magnesium. In this study, the effect of carbon dopant additions on the microstructure of boron fibers was investigated using powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, bundles of boron fibers were pressure infiltrated with molten magnesium and reacted at elevated temperatures. The microstructure and microchemistry of the fiber-metal interfaces were investigated by TEM and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS).