The critical current density, JC, was measured at 4.2K for MgB2 strands with and without SiC additions. In some cases measurements were performed on long (1 m) samples wound on barrels, the transport results being compared to the results of magnetic measurements. Most measurements were performed on short samples in fields of up to 18 T. It was found that in situ processed strands with 10% SiC additions heat-treated at 700 to 800C exhibited improved irreversibility fields, Hr, and bulk pinning strengths, Fp, as compared to control samples; an increase in Hr of 1.5T was noted. Heat treatment to 900C gave even larger improvements, with Hr reaching 18T and Fp values maximizing at 20GN/m3.

Irreversibility Field and Flux Pinning in MgB2 With and Without SiC Additions. M.D.Sumption, M.Bhatia, S.X.Dou, M.Rindfleisch, M.Tomsic, L.Arda, M.Ozdemir, Y.Hascicek, E.W.Collings: Superconductor Science and Technology, 2004, 17, 1180-4