Conductors with controlled grain boundaries: An approach to the next generation, high temperature superconducting wire
- Metals Ceramics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6116 (United States)
- Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6116 (United States)
- Chemistry and Analytical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6116 (United States)
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1200 (United States)
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (United States)
Much of the conductor development effort in the last decade has focused on optimizing the processing of (Bi,Pb){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} oxide-powder-in-tube conductors and (Bi,Pb){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} (Bi-2212) and TlBa{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} thick film conductors. It is demonstrated that in each of these conductors, critical current densities are dictated by the grain boundary misorientation distributions (GBMD{close_quote}s). Percolative networks of low-angle boundaries with fractions consistent with the active cross-sectional area of the conductor exist in each of these conductors. Further enhancements in the properties require increased numbers of small-angle grain boundaries. Given the processing methods used to fabricate these materials, no clear route employing a simple modification of the established processing method is apparent. To address this need, conductors with controlled or predetermined GBMD{close_quote}s are necessary. Development of biaxial texture appears to be the only possible way to increase the number of small-angle boundaries in a practical and controllable manner. We summarize in this paper recent results obtained on epitaxial superconducting films on rolling-assisted-biaxially-textured-substrates (RABiTS). This technique uses well established, industrially scalable, thermomechanical processes to impart a strong biaxial texture to a base metal. This is followed by vapor deposition of epitaxial buffer layers (metal and/or ceramic) to yield structurally and chemically compatible surfaces. Epitaxial YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} films grown using laser ablation on such substrates have critical current densities exceeding 10{sup 6} A/cm{sup 2} at 77 K in zero field and have a field dependence similar to epitaxial films on single crystal ceramic substrates. Deposited conductors made using this technique offer a potential route for the fabrication of the next generation high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire capable of carrying high currents in high magnetic fields and at elevated temperatures. {copyright} {ital 1997 Materials Research Society.}
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 565721
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Research, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 12; ISSN JMREEE; ISSN 0884-2914
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BARIUM OXIDES
BISMUTH OXIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
COPPER OXIDES
CRITICAL CURRENT
DEPOSITION
EPITAXY
FABRICATION
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
LEAD OXIDES
PROCESS CONTROL
STRONTIUM OXIDES
SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS
SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES
TEXTURE
THALLIUM OXIDES
YTTRIUM OXIDES