Synthesis and properties of Mg1−xCuxB2 bulk samples obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis at low temperatures were presented. The best pre-heating temperature T0 was from 250 to 350C. It was found that the part of Cu atoms may be introduced into the lattice of MgB2 to replace the Mg atoms and the other of Cu atoms forms MgCu2. The critical temperature TC was 36.5K in Mg0.8Cu0.2B2 and the width of transition was less than 0.3K. The Mg0.8Cu0.2B2 sample shows the highest JC of 6.7 x 105A/cm2 under 0.5T at 10K and 5.0 x 105A/cm2 in self-field at 20K. The significant enhancement of JC in Cu-doped samples may be caused by good grain connection, the reduction of grain size and small MgCu2 particles in the sample. This technique had a great potential to prepare high performance MgB2 bulk samples and wires by Cu doping on an industrial scale.

Synthesis and Properties of Mg1−xCuxB2 Bulk Obtained by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS) Method at Low Temperature. W.J.Feng, T.D.Xia, T.Z.Liu, W.J.Zhao, Z.Q.Wei: Physica C, 2005, 425[3-4], 144-8