Abstract: A cabled conductor comprises a plurality of transposed strands each comprising one or more preferably twisted filaments preferably surrounded or supported by a matrix material and comprising textured anisotropic superconducting compounds which have crystallographic grain alignment that is substantially unidirectional and independent of the rotational orientation of the strands and filaments in the cabled conductors. The cabled conductor is made by forming a plurality of suitable composite strands, forming a cabled intermediate from the strands by transposing them about the longitudinal axis of the conductor at a preselected strand lay pitch, and, texturing the strands in one or more steps including at least one step involving application of a texturing process with a primary component directed orthogonal to the widest longitudinal cross-section of the cabled intermediate, at least one such orthogonal texturing step occurring subsequent to said strand transposition step.

Abstract: A multifilamentary superconductor composite having a high fill factor is formed from a plurality of stacked monofilament precursor elements, each of which includes a low density superconductor precursor monofilament. The precursor elements all have substantially the same dimensions and characteristics, and are stacked in a rectilinear configuration and consolidated to provide a multifilamentary precursor composite. The composite is thereafter thermomechanically processed to provide a superconductor composite in which each monofilament is less than about 50 microns thick.

Abstract: An oxide superconducting cable is provided having a plurality of strands comprised of at least one oxide superconductor filament sheathed in a ductile and conductive metal matrix and least one of said strand further comprising a substantially continuous high resistivity coating substantially surrounding said at least one strand. The strands are positioned and arranged to form a cable. The cable is prepared by (a) applying a ductile predecessor coating to a plurality of strands, each said strand comprised of at least one oxide superconductor filament or a precursor thereto sheathed in a ductile metal matrix, and the ductile predecessor capable of conversion into a high resistivity material; (b) assembling the plurality of strands into a cable; and (c ) converting the ductile predecessor into a high resistivity material, where steps (a) and (b) can be performed in any order.

Abstract: A new method for fabricating silver or silver alloy tube stock is described. The method provides silver or silver alloy tube stock with a structure that is substantially free of defects, has a fine grain size, and is amenable to uniform deformation. The silver or silver alloy tube stock is used to make silver-superconductor monofilament or multifilament precursor articles and composites.

Abstract: A multifilamentary superconductor composite having a high fill factor is formed from a plurality of stacked monofilament precursor elements, each of which includes a low density superconductor precursor monofilament. The precursor elements all have substantially the same dimensions and characteristics, and are stacked in a rectilinear configuration and consolidated to provide a multifilamentary precursor composite. The composite is thereafter thermomechanically processed to provide a superconductor composite in which each monofilament is less than about 50 microns thick.

Abstract: A cabled conductor comprises a plurality of transposed strands each comprising one or more preferably twisted filaments preferably surrounded or supported by a matrix material and comprising textured anisotropic superconducting compounds which have crystallographic grain alignment that is substantially unidirectional and independent of the rotational orientation of the strands and filaments in the cabled conductor. The cabled conductor is made by forming a plurality of suitable composite strands, forming a cabled intermediate from the strands by transposing them about the longitudinal axis of the conductor at a preselected strand lay pitch, and, texturing the strands in one or more steps including at least one step involving application of a texturing process with a primary component directed orthogonal to the widest longitudinal cross-section of the cabled intermediate, at least one such orthogonal texturing step occurring subsequent to said strand transposition step.

Abstract: A method for fabricating silver or silver alloy tube stock. The method provides silver or silver alloy tube stock with a structure that is substantially free of defects, has a fine grain size, and is amenable to uniform deformation. The silver or silver alloy tube stock is used to make silver-superconductor monofilament or multifilament precursor articles and composites.

Abstract: A cabled conductor is provided for use in a cryogenically cooled circuit including refrigeration having a predetermined operating temperature and efficiency. The conductor includes multiple conductor strands cabled about the longitudinal axis of the conductor at a preselected cabling period, each strand including a composite of superconducting ceramic in intimate contact with conductive matrix material. Each filament has high performance regions in which the filament material is well-textured with its preferred direction aligned perpendicular to the widest longitudinal cross-section of the conductor alternating with poorly superconducting regions which are at least about half the diameter of a filament in length and in which the superconducting ceramic filament is strained by transposition in excess of its critical strain limit. In the poorly superconducting regions, the conductive matrix material provides an alternate current path.

Abstract: A cabled conductor comprises a plurality of transposed strands each comprising one or more preferably twisted filaments preferably surrounded or supported by a matrix material and comprising textured anisotropic superconducting compounds which have crystallographic grain alignment that is substantially unidirectional and independent of the rotational orientation of the strands and filaments in the cabled conductor. The cabled conductor is made by forming a plurality of suitable composite strands, forming a cabled intermediate from the strands by transposing them about the longitudinal axis of the conductor at a preselected strand lay pitch, and, texturing the strands in one or more steps including at least one step involving application of a texturing process with a primary component directed orthogonal to the widest longitudinal cross-section of the cabled intermediate, at least one such orthogonal texturing step occurring subsequent to said strand transposition step.

Abstract: A method for preparing an oxide superconductor cable includes transposing a plurality of oxide superconductor strands along a longitudinal axis so as to form a cable and exposing the cable to a two step heat treatment after cabling of the oxide strands, the heat treatment comprising, (a) heating the cable to and maintaining the cable at a first temperature sufficient to partially melt the article, such that a liquid phase co-exists with the desired oxide superconductor phase; and (b) cooling the cable to and maintaining the cable at a second temperature sufficient to substantially transform the liquid phase into the desired oxide superconductor.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic coil includes a first superconductor formed of an anisotropic superconducting material for providing a low-loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil and a second superconductor having a low loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coil. The first superconductor has a normal state resistivity characteristic conducive for providing current limiting in the event that the superconducting magnetic coil is subjected to a current fault.

Abstract: A method of forming a textured superconductor wire includes constraining an elongated superconductor precursor between two constraining elongated members placed in contact therewith on opposite sides of the superconductor precursor, and passing the superconductor precursor with the two constraining members through flat rolls to form the textured superconductor wire. The method includes selecting desired cross-sectional shape and size constraining members to control the width of the formed superconductor wire. A textured superconductor wire formed by the method of the invention has regular-shaped, curved sides and is free of flashing. A rolling assembly for single-pass rolling of the elongated precursor superconductor includes two rolls, two constraining members, and a fixture for feeding the precursor superconductor and the constraining members between the rolls.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic coil includes a first superconductor formed of an anisotropic superconducting material for providing a low-loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil and a second superconductor having a low loss magnetic field characteristic for magnetic fields perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coil. The first superconductor has a normal state resistivity characteristic conducive for providing current limiting in the event that the superconducting magnetic coil is subjected to a current fault.

Abstract: Disclosed Is a process for the fabrication of rare earth or rare earth alloy materials in the form of fine wires for refrigeration regenerator applications. The wire is a composite consisting of a metal core and a metal sheath. The core material is comprises of at least a 20 atomic percent portion of rare earth metal as a pure metal, an alloy with other rare earth metals, or an intermetallic compound alloy with one or more non rare earth metals. The sheath material is essentially immiscible with the rare earth in the core, has no magnetic phase transitions in the temperature range for the intended operation, and has good corrosion and oxidation resistance. The sheath material is typically a small portion of the total composite wire cross section. The composite wire is fabricated from the co-reduction of an assembled billet by conventional wire processing techniques.