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Title: Magnetic preferential orientation of metal oxide superconducting materials

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7268325

A superconductor comprised of a polycrystalline metal oxide such as YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7[minus]X] (where 0 < X < 0.5) exhibits superconducting properties and is capable of conducting very large current densities. By aligning the two-dimensional Cu-O layers which carry the current in the superconducting state in the a- and b-directions, i.e., within the basal plane, a high degree of crystalline axes alignment is provided between adjacent grains permitting the conduction of high current densities. The highly anisotropic diamagnetic susceptibility of the polycrystalline metal oxide material permits the use of an applied magnetic field to orient the individual crystals when in the superconducting state to substantially increase current transport between adjacent grains. In another embodiment, the anisotropic paramagnetic susceptibility of rare-earth ions substituted into the oxide material is made use of as an applied magnetic field orients the particles in a preferential direction. This latter operation can be performed with the material in the normal (non-superconducting) state. 4 figs.

DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
Assignee:
Arch Development Corp., Argonne, IL (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 4942151; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-101820
OSTI ID:
7268325
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 28 Sep 1987
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English