Abstract
The present paper focuses on methods of further improving the flux pinning and critical current density of disk-shaped MgB2 bulk superconductors by adding excess Mg metal in combination with an optimum silver content and optimized processing conditions. Bulk MgB2 samples were produced by in situ solid-state reaction in Ar gas ambient using high purity commercial powders of Mg metal and 1.5 wt% carbon-coated amorphous B powders mixed in a fixed ratio of Mg/B = 1.1:2. Further, 4 wt% silver was added to improve flux pinning as well as mechanical performance of the bulk MgB2 material. The magnetization measurements confirmed a sharp superconducting transition with Tc,onset at around 37 K, which is only by 1 K lower than in bulk MgB2 material produced without carbon-coated amorphous boron. The critical current density (Jc) values significantly improved in the MgB2 material with 4 wt% of silver and 1.5 wt% of carbon-coated amorphous boron, sintered at 775 ∘C for 3 h. At 20 K, this sample showed Jc at around 500 and 350 kA/cm2 in the self-field and 1 T, respectively, which makes it suitable for several industrial applications.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 2677-2681 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 Sep 1 |
Keywords
- Critical current density (J)
- Flux pinning
- MgB
- Microstructure
- X-ray diffraction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics