Papers by Author: Michael Wendt

Abstract: The critical current density, jc, of high-pressure synthesized MgB2-based balk materials correlates with the amount and distribution of higher borides (MgB12) and Mg-B-O inclusions, which in tern correlates with the synthesis temperature and presence of additions (Ti, Ta, SiC). High-pressure-synthesized materials with near MgB12 composition of matrix exhibited superconducting transition temperature, Tc, of about 37 K, rather high jc (5∙105 and 103 A/cm2 in 0 T and 3.5 T, respectively, at 20 K) and doubled matrix microhardness: 25±1.1 GPa at 4.9 N –load as compared to materials with MgB2).

Abstract: MgB2-based nanostructural materials with rather high oxygen concentration (5-14 wt.%) and dispersed grains of higher borides (MgB12, MgB7) high-pressure (2 GPa or 30 MPa) synthesized (in-situ) or sintered (ex-situ) demonstrated high superconducting characteristics (critical current density, jc, up to 1.8-1.0106 A/cm2 in the self magnetic field and 103 in 8 T field at 20 K, 3-1.5105 A/cm2 in the self field at 35 K, upper critical field up to HC2 = 15 T at 22 K, field of irreversibility Hirr =13 T at 20 K). The additives (Ti, SiC) and synthesis or sintering temperature can affect the segregation of oxygen and formation of oxygen-enriched Mg-B-O inclusions in the material structure, thus reducing the amount of oxygen in the material matrix as well as the formation of higher borides grains, which affects an increase of the critical current density. The record high HC2 and Hirr have been registered for the material high-pressure (2 GPa) synthesized from Mg and B at 600 oC having 17% porosity and more than 7 wt.% of oxygen. The attained values of the critical current, AC losses and thermal conductivity make the materials promising for application for fault current limiters and electromotors. The structural and superconducting (SC) characteristics of the material with matrix close to MgB12 in stoichiometry has been studied and the SC transition Tc=37 K as well as jc= 5×104 A/cm2 at 20 K in the self field were registered, its Raman spectrum demonstrated metal-like behavior.

Abstract: Addition of Ti and Zr to high-pressure (HP) synthesized MgB2 results in an increase of critical current density of the material due to the absorption of impurity hydrogen coming most likely from the materials of a high-pressure cell. The results of the studies of structure, critical current density, trapped field and mechanical characteristics are discussed. High-pressure synthesized MgB2 (with Ti additions) blocks were for the first time used in a SC electromotor at 20 K and demonstrated the efficiency similar to that of MT-YBCO bulk (at the same working temperature).