Shaping Or Consolidating (e.g., Pelletizing, Compacting, Etc.) Patents (Class 505/490)
  • Patent number: 11767267
    Abstract: A method of producing polycrystalline Y3Ba5Cu8Oy (Y-358) whereby powders of yttrium (III) oxide, a barium (II) salt, and copper (II) oxide are pelletized, calcined at 850 to 950° C. for 8 to 16 hours, ball milled under controlled conditions, pelletized again and sintered in an oxygen atmosphere at 900 to 1000° C. for up to 72 hours. The polycrystalline Y3Ba5Cu8Oy thus produced is in the form of elongated crystals having an average length of 2 to 10 ?m and an average width of 1 to 2 ?m, and embedded with spherical nanoparticles of yttrium deficient Y3Ba5Cu8Oy having an average diameter of 5 to 20 nm. The spherical nanoparticles are present as agglomerates having flower-like morphology with an average particles size of 30 to 60 nm. The ball milled polycrystalline Y3Ba5Cu8Oy prepared under controlled conditions shows significant enhancement of superconducting and flux pinning properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Univesity
    Inventor: Yassine Slimani
  • Patent number: 8943686
    Abstract: A method for coupling ends of two insulated conductors includes coupling a core of a first insulated conductor to a core of a second insulated conductor. Exposed portions of the cores are located inside a box with an open top. Electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a first plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material. Additional electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a second plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material into compacted powder material that surrounds the exposed portions of the cores. The compacted powder material is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A sleeve is placed over the compacted powder material and coupling the sleeve to the jackets of the insulated conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Carrie Elizabeth Hartford, David Stuart Morgan
  • Patent number: 8709979
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of preparing a MgB2 superconducting wire and the MgB2 superconducting wire prepared thereby. The method comprising rolling a raw powder by using a powder rolling method. According to the method of the present invention has an effect of increasing an effective area where superconducting current can flow by improvement of the connectivity of a MgB2 superconducting powder and achievement of high density through a powder rolling process, and maintaining an uniform current value even in a large length because of the improvement of the connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Kook-Chae Chung, Tae-Hoon Kim, Soon-Tae Ahn, Bharat Sinha Bhavesh
  • Patent number: 8530389
    Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of oxide superconducting rods. The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxide superconducting rods. The process includes the steps of a cold isopressing process without addition of binder, particularly thin and those based on Ag-added (Bi,Pb)2 Sr2 Ca2 Cu3 O10+x is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Narinder Kumar Arora, Gursharan Kaur Padam, Ramesh Sethi, Mukul Sharma, Shrikant Narayan Ekbote
  • Patent number: 8465793
    Abstract: A process for preparing a shaped substrate suitable in the production of coated conductors which process allows the deformation of a textured substrate onto which a textured buffer layer has been already grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Jürgen Ehrenberg, Mark Rikel
  • Patent number: 8437819
    Abstract: Superconductor cable having a plurality of flat, tape-shaped ribbon superconductor wires assembled to form a stack having a rectangular cross section, the stack having a twist about a longitudinal axis of the stack. Multiple superconductor cables including twisted stacked-cables of the flat-tape-shaped superconductor wires, and power cable comprising the twisted flat-tape stacked cables are disclosed. Superconducting power cable disposed within and separated from an electrical insulator with a space passing cryo-coolant between the superconducting cable and insulator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Makoto Takayasu, Joseph V. Minervini, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 8372784
    Abstract: A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P?100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor ? is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventor: René Flükiger
  • Patent number: 8367585
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a superconducting strip having a metal coating layer and a method of manufacturing the superconducting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hong Soo Ha, Sang Soo Oh, Dong Woo Ha, Kyu Jung Song, Rock Kil Ko, Ho Sup Kim
  • Publication number: 20130012394
    Abstract: Provided is a superconducting accelerator cavity and a method thereof with which product reliability can be enhanced and manufacturing costs can be reduced. A method of manufacturing a superconducting accelerator cavity includes a beam-pipe forming stage of forming a beam pipe by processing a superconducting material into a tube shape; an end-plate joining stage of joining, by welding, an inner circumferential surface of an end plate formed in a shape of a ring that forms an end of a jacket, which accommodates coolant, to an outer circumferential portion of an end in the beam pipe formed in the beam-pipe forming stage; and an end-cell joining stage of joining, by welding, an iris portion of an end cell, which is formed of a superconducting material in a shape of a ring so as to form a cavity portion, to an inner circumferential portion of the end of the beam pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sennyu, Hiroshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20120083416
    Abstract: A method for making a composite superconductor and a superconductor made using the method. Superconducting filaments are embedded in a matrix material. Oxygen-containing elements are also embedded in the matrix material, with the oxygen-containing elements preferably being dispersed evenly among the superconducting filaments. A surrounding reinforcement material contains the other elements and preferably seals the superconductor from the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Painter, Ting Xu, Xiaotao Liu
  • Patent number: 8061016
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a superconducting coil is provided which includes fabricating individual coil windings by depositing, shaping and texturing superconductive material in situ on a former which has a substantially curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: 3-CS Ltd
    Inventor: Eamonn Maher
  • Publication number: 20110045985
    Abstract: A superconductor which comprises a new compound composition substituting for perovskite copper oxides. The superconductor is characterized by comprising a compound which is represented by the chemical formula A(TM)2Pn2 [wherein A is at least one member selected from the elements in Group 1, the elements in Group 2, or the elements in Group 3 (Sc, Y, and the rare-earth metal elements); TM is at least one member selected from the transition metal elements Fe, Ru, Os, Ni, Pd, or Pt; and Pn is at least one member selected from the elements in Group 15 (pnicogen elements)] and which has an infinite-layer crystal structure comprising (TM)Pn layers alternating with metal layers of the element (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Hideo Hosono, Hiroshi Yanagi, Toshio Kamiya, Satoru Matsuishi, Sungwng Kim, Seok Gyu Yoon, Hidenori Hiramatsu, Masahiro Hirano, Yoichi Kamihara, Takatoshi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20100190649
    Abstract: A device and method for making a persistent joint allowing end terminations of superconducting MgB2 wire to be joined with a superconducting bridge. Superconducting electromagnetic coils may be joined in series or joining of coil assemblies to current sources and the two ends of a persistent switch. The device includes wire filaments with end preparation exposing reacted MgB2, inserted into a block and surrounded with Mg+B and/or MgB2 in powder, solid, slurry or sol-gel form and subsequently reacted to establish a bridge of superconducting MgB2 electrically connecting the superconducting MgB2 wires. Autonomous operation of the superconducting background magnet coils in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) devices are allowed, or similar devices where autonomous operation of an MgB2 based superconducting magnet is required. The low resistant joint will also be beneficial for other superconducting applications such as fault current limiters, motors, generators, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: David W. Doll, Michael J. Tomsic
  • Patent number: 7749939
    Abstract: By adding an aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene to the powder mixture of magnesium (Mg) or magnesium hydride (MgH2) and boron (B) as raw materials of a superconductor MgB2, high superconducting critical current density (Jc) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignees: National Institute for Materials Science, Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kumakura, Hitoshi Kitaguchi, Masazumi Hirakawa, Hideyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100081573
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a superconducting material, comprising mixing starting materials comprising magnesium, boron, silicon and carbon; heating the mixture of starting materials to a temperature in the range between 650° C. and 2000° C. to produce a material comprising magnesium boride doped with silicon carbide; and cooling the resulting material to a temperature below the critical temperature of the material to render the material capable of superconducting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: SHI XUE DOU, HAU KUN LIU, ALEXEY VLADIMIROVICH PAN, SIHAI ZHOU, MIHAIL HORIA IONESCU
  • Publication number: 20090215631
    Abstract: A method for production of hollow bodies, in particular for radio-frequency resonators is shown and described. The object to provide a hollow bodies and a resonator, respectively, having improved electrical properties is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: Providing a substrate having a monocrystalline region, defining a cut area through the substrate, fitting markings on both sides of the cut area, producing two wafers by cutting along the cut area, wherein the wafers are completely removed from the monocrystalline region, forming the wafers into half-cells, wherein the half-cells have a joining area, joining together the half-cells to form a hollow body, wherein the joining areas bear on one another, and wherein the markings on the half-cells are oriented with respect to one another on both sides of the joining area as on both sides of the cut areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESY
    Inventors: Xenia Singer, Waldemar Singer, Johannes Schwellenbach, Michael Pekeler
  • Patent number: 7541313
    Abstract: A alloy (Mg—X) of metal (X) and Mg in a liquid phase is made to react with B in a solid phase at a low temperature to manufacture a superconductor, which contains a large amount of MgB2 potential for MRI, linear motorcar, superconducting cavity, electric power transmission cable, high-magnetic field magnet for medical units, electric power storage (SMES), and the like and is formed in the shape of bulk, wire, and foil, by heat treatment performed at a low temperature for a short time and at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Akihiro Kikuchi, Kiyoshi Inoue, Yasuo Iijima, Yuji Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090048114
    Abstract: There are provided an intermetallic-compound superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature, and an alloy superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature and excels in malleability and ductility, as well as a method of making such a superconductor with good reproducibility and at a low cost of manufacture. This entirely new intermetallic compound superconductor is made of magnesium (Mg) and beryllium (Be) and has a chemical composition expressed by formula: Mg1Be2, has a hexagonal AlB2 type crystallographic structure and has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K. An alloy containing this intermetallic compound excels in malleability and ductility and constitutes the alloy superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K and being low in specific resistance for normal conduction at a temperature ranging from the superconducting transition temperature to a room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Jun AKIMITSU, Yuji ZENITANI, Takahiro MURANAKA, Kazunobu KADOMURA
  • Patent number: 7431868
    Abstract: A metal substrate for an oxide superconducting wire, which comprises a polycrystalline metal substrate with a rolled aggregate structure having a {100} plane which is parallel to the rolled surface and a <001> axis which is parallel to the rolling direction, and an oxide crystal layer comprising an oxide of the polycrystalline metal and formed on a surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate, wherein at least 90% of grain boundaries in the oxide crystal layer have an inclination of 10° or less, and at least 90% of the {100} plane of the oxide crystal layer make an angle of 10° or less with the surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., International Superconductivity Technology Center, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Maeda, Toru Izumi, Katsuya Hasegawa, Shigenobu Asada, Teruo Izumi, Yuh Shiohara
  • Patent number: 7309511
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide superconductor thick film which is formed on a substrate or a board and has a high Jc and Ic and a method for manufacturing the same. Predetermined amounts of materials containing elements of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca and Cu are weighed, mixed and subjected to steps of calcining, milling, and drying, and thereafter an organic binder and an organic vehicle are added thereto to prepare a (Bi, Pb)2+aSr2Ca2Cu3O2 superconductive paste, which is applied to the surface of a substrate or a board in a thickness of 260 ?m or more and dried. Thereafter, the paste is first subjected to burning at temperatures of 835° C. to 840° C. for 100 hours, then pressurization, and further burning at temperatures of 835° C. to 840° C. for 100 hours, thereby preparing an oxide superconductor thick film having a film thickness of 130 ?m or more having a high Jc and Ic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Dowa Electronics Materials Co., Ltd, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Masahiro Kojima, Masakazu Kawahara, Michiharu Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Kado, Masatoyo Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7135438
    Abstract: A class of superconductive materials containing copper-oxygen bonding and with mixed cation-occupancy designed with a view to size and valence consideration yield useful values of critical temperature and other properties. Uses entail all applications which involves superconducting materials such as magnets and transmission lines which require continuous superconductivity paths as well as detectors (e.g., which may rely on tunneling).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bertram Josef Batlogg, Robert Joseph Cava, Robert Bruce van Dover
  • Patent number: 7056866
    Abstract: Described is a superconducting composition comprising an oxide complex of the formula [L1?xMx]aAbOy wherein L is lanthanum, lutetium, yttrium, or scandium; A is copper, bismuth, titanium, tungsten, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, or vanadium; M is barium, strontium, calcium, magnesium or mercury; and “a” is 1 to 2; “b” is 1; and “x” is a number in the range of 0.01 to 1.0; and “y” is about 2 to about 4. The oxide complexes of the invention are prepared by a solid-state reaction procedure which produces an oxide complex having an enhanced superconducting transition temperature compared to an oxide complex of like empirical composition prepared by a coprecipitation—high temperature decomposition procedure. With an oxide complex prepared by the solid-state reaction of the invention a transition temperature as high as 100°K has been observed even under atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: University of Houston-University Park
    Inventor: Ching-Wu Chu
  • Patent number: 7018954
    Abstract: Processes for the fabrication of MgB2 powder and wires are provided. Powders are produced by mechanically alloying magnesium- and boron-containing precursors under controlled conditions to avoid secondary phase and impurity formation. Powders are also prepared by vapor phase reaction of volatile magnesium- and boron-containing precursors. Wires, tapes, films and coatings are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis L. Thieme, Martin W. Rupich, Alexander Otto, Gilbert N. Riley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6908691
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a metal strip for epitaxial coating with a biaxially textured layer, this metal strip, however, being able to be produced in an uncomplicated manner and having a high tensile strength, low magnetic losses and/or a high electrical conductivity. According to the invention, the metal strip is comprised of Nj, Cu, Ag or alloys thereof all serving as basic material, whereby the one-layer metal strip and, in the instance of a multilayer metal strip, at least one of its layers contains 10 nm to 5 ?m large, strength-increasing dispersoids comprised of carbides, borides, oxides and/or nitrides with a volume proportion ranging from 0.1 to 5%. In the instance of a multilayer metal strip, the layers form a composite, and at least one of the layers does not contain any dispersoids and has a biaxial texture. For the production, a starting material is used, which is comprised of Ni, Cu, Ag or of alloys thereof all serving as basic material and which contains 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Institut fuer Festkoerper-und Werkstoffforschung Dresden e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd De Boer, Bernhard Holzapfel, Gunter Risse
  • Patent number: 6869916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-temperature superconductor component with a particular cross-sectional area, which has a current-carrying section, the current-carrying section being in contact with a safety conductor in such a way that the critical current flowing on transition of the superconductor to normal conduction can be taken up without damage by the safety conductor in at least 1 second and rerouted, as well as a process for its production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Nexans Superductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Gauss, Joachim Bock, Johannes Holzem, Guenter Brommer, Markus Grom, Werner Horst
  • Publication number: 20040116302
    Abstract: Protected superconductor component and process for its production The invention relates to a high-temperature superconductor component with a particular cross-sectional area, which has a current-carrying section, the current-carrying section being in contact with a safety conductor in such a way that the critical current flowing on transition of the superconductor to normal conduction can be taken up without damage by the safety conductor in at least 1 second and rerouted, as well as a process for its production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: NEXANS SUPERCONDUCTORS GMBHS
    Inventors: Stephan Gauss, Joachim Bock, Johannes Holzem, Guenter Brommer, Markus Grom, Werner Horst
  • Patent number: 6653259
    Abstract: A method of fabricating large bulk high temperature superconducting articles which comprises the steps of selecting predetermined sizes of crystalline superconducting materials and mixing these specific sizes of particles into a homogeneous mixture which is then poured into a die. The die is placed in a press and pressurized to predetermined pressure for a predetermined time and is heat treated in the furnace at predetermined temperatures for a predetermined time. The article is left in the furnace to soak at predetermined temperatures for a predetermined period of time and is oxygenated by an oxygen source during the soaking period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Ronald J. Koczor, Robert A. Hiser
  • Patent number: 6617284
    Abstract: A superconductor composite material consists of sintering products of interaction of superconductor ceramics with silicone material. The superconductor composite material can also include at least one metal, metal oxide or halogen element dope that interacts with superconductor ceramics and silicone residuals at sintering high temperature. The suspension or slurry of superconductor ceramics, silicone and dope powders can be used for coating of the particular substrate. Such coating employs modified forming methods including dip coating, painting, slip casting, cladding, printing, and spraying in order to produce continuous superconductor filament, wire, tape, coil, large size screen, and small chip or electronic element. The condensed suspension is used for extrusion, injection molding, and pressing continuous and short superconductor tubes, rods, beams, rails as well as disks, rings and other bulk shaped materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: Anatoly Rokhvarger, Mikhail I. Topchiashvili
  • Patent number: 6511943
    Abstract: A process of preparing superconducting magnesium diboride powder by heating an admixture of solid magnesium and amorphous boron powder or pellet under an inert atmosphere in a Mg:B ratio of greater than about 0.6:1 at temperatures and for time sufficient to form said superconducting magnesium diboride. The process can further include exposure to residual oxygen at high synthesis temperatures followed by slow cooling. In the cooling process oxygen atoms dissolved into MgB2 segregated to form nanometer-sized coherent Mg(B,O) precipitates in the MgB2 matrix, which can act as flux pinning centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Adriana C. Serquis, Yuntian T. Zhu, Frederick M. Mueller, Dean E. Peterson, Xiao Zhou Liao
  • Patent number: 6447714
    Abstract: A method of preparing a biaxially textured alloy article comprises the steps of preparing a mixture comprising Ni powder and at least one powder selected from the group consisting of Cr, W, V, Mo, Cu, Al, Ce, YSZ, Y, Rare Earths, (RE), MgO, CeO2, and Y2O3; compacting the mixture, followed by heat treating and rapidly recrystallizing to produce a biaxial texture on the article. In some embodiments the alloy article further comprises electromagnetic or electro-optical devices and possesses superconducting properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Amit Goyal, Robert K. Williams, Donald M. Kroeger
  • Patent number: 6420318
    Abstract: Superconducting composite materials having particles of superconducting material disposed in a metal matrix material with a high electron-boson coupling coefficient (&lgr;). The superconducting particles can comprise any type of superconductor including Laves phase materials, Chevrel phase materials, A15 compounds, and perovskite cuprate ceramics. The particles preferably have dimensions of about 10-500 nanometers. The particles preferably have dimensions larger than the superconducting coherence length of the superconducting material. The metal matrix material has a &lgr; greater than 0.2, preferably the &lgr; is much higher than 0.2. The metal matrix material is a good proximity superconductor due to its high &lgr;. When cooled, the superconductor particles cause the metal matrix material to become superconducting due to the proximity effect. In cases where the particles and the metal matrix material are chemically incompatible (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Matthew J. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 6335065
    Abstract: A process for centrifugal slip casting a textured hollow tube. A slip made up of a carrier fluid and a suspended powder is introduced into a porous mold which is rotated at a speed sufficient to create a centrifugal force that forces the slip radially outward toward the inner surface of the mold. The suspended powder, which is formed of particles having large dimensional aspect ratios such as particles of superconductive BSCCO, settles in a textured fashion radially outward toward the mold surface. The carrier fluid of the slip passes by capillary action radially outward around the settled particles and into the absorbent mold. A layer of mold release material is preferably centrifugally slip cast to cover the mold inner surface prior to the introduction of the BSCCO slip, and the mold release layer facilitates removal of the BSCCO greenbody from the mold without fracturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Greg A. Steinlage, Kevin P. Trumble, Keith J. Bowman
  • Patent number: 6291403
    Abstract: A high Tc superconducting ceramics material is produced by a method in which a mixture of chemicals in suitable amounts is compacted into a desired form. The compact mixture is then fired and, at the same time, a magnetic field is apilied to the compacted mixture in a predetermined direction. By virtue of the application of magnetic field during firing, the orderliness of molecular arrangement is enhanced and an elevated transition temperature Tc is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6258754
    Abstract: A process which relies on a joining technique between two individual strongly linked superconductors is disclosed. Specifically, this invention relates to fabrication of single domains of YBa2Cu3Ox or YBa2Cu3Ox with the addition of Y2BaCuO5 and/or other secondary phases such as Pt/PtO2, CeO2, SnO2, Ag, Y2O3 and other rare earth oxides, by using a top-seeded, melt processing technique. Beginning with a single crystal seed such as Nd1+xBa2−xCu3O3 or SmBa2Cu3Ox crystals, a melt-textured YBCO domain with crystallographic orientation nearly similar to that of the seed crystal can be fabricated. The samples are next machined to desired geometrical shapes. A bonding material is then applied to the ac plane. Low solidification or recrystalization point, similar crystal structure to that of YBa2Cu3Ox, and capability of growing epitaxially on YBCO domains are critical parameters of the bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Superconductive Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Suvankar Sengupta
  • Patent number: 6255255
    Abstract: An oxide superconducting material includes a REBa2Cu3O7−x phase (RE designating one or a combination of two or more rare earth elements including Y), particles composed of Ce, Ba, Cu and O dispersed therein, and RE2BaCuO5 or RE4Ba2Cu2O10 dispersed therein. A method is provided for producing the superconducting material from a mixed powder obtained by adding a Ce—Ba—Cu—O system additive to a starting material powder containing RE, Ba, Cu and O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Morita, Tetsuro Nose
  • Patent number: 6191075
    Abstract: A method of preparing a high temperature superconductor. A method of preparing a superconductor includes providing a powdered high temperature superconductor and a nanophase paramagnetic material. These components are combined to form a solid compacted mass with the paramagnetic material disposed on the grain boundaries of the polycrystaline high temperature superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: Uthamalingam Balachandran, Richard W. Siegel, Thomas R. Askew
  • Patent number: 6159400
    Abstract: A method for forging, or hot working bulk ceramics, including high temperature superconductors and other sensitive materials, under precisely controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, atmospheric composition, and strain rate. A capsule with massive end plates and with an independent gas supply is located in a modified hot isostatic press (HIP), designed to operate at pressures of up to 200 MPa and at temperatures of up to 1000 C. Essentially uniaxial deformation of a pre-compacted disc with forces of up to 500,000 Newtons (50 tons), and over time scales from seconds to hours can be achieved by separately controlling the pressure in the capsule from that of its surroundings. The separate gas supply to the capsule can also maintain a specified gaseous atmosphere around the disc, up to the operating pressure of the equipment. The apparatus can be designed to tolerate oxygen concentrations of up to 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Henry Louis Laquer
  • Patent number: 6046139
    Abstract: We make large (in excess of 2 cm in diameter), single crystal YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x [123 YBCO] crystals, where x.ltoreq.0.6, in a seventeen step process or some variant thereof from finely ground and well mixed 123 YBCO and 211 YBCO powders with a small amount of Pt by controlling the rate of cooling from within a compact of the powders using a temperature gradient in the radial and axial planes (independently) of about 1-1.degree. C./inch diameter of compact to nucleate the crystal growth. We promote crystal growth as well using a samarium oxide seed crystal, preferably SmBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.(7-y), where y.ltoreq.1.6. After nucleation we cool the compact slowly at a rate from about 0.1-1.degree. C./hr to promote the single crystal development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kay Y. Blohowiak, Darryl F. Garrigus, Thomas S. Luhman, Kevin E. McCrary, Michael Strasik, Ilhan Aksay, Fatih Dogan, William C. Hicks, Corrie B. Martin
  • Patent number: 6010983
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor composite material, which is suitable for production of filaments, wires, coils and other shaped products, has a ceramic powder of a material selected from the group consisting of, for example, YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x and Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.10 ; a solution of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber silicone or lacquer silicone in a substance selected from the group consisting of toluene or acetone; and an ultra-fine silver powder dope, and is produced by using an emulsion mixture of the three major components with ultrasonic homogenization of the mixture, primer cladding of a glue-exterior layer on a silver core filament, high temperature superconductor coating of the silver core by chemical adhesion, and polymerization of the coating applied by low temperature heating, whereafter the composition is treated by magnetic treatment, gamma irradiation, and microwave supported fast heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventors: M. I. Topchiashvili, A. E. Rokhvarger
  • Patent number: 6008163
    Abstract: A process for centrifugal slip casting a textured hollow tube. A slip made up of a carrier fluid and a suspended powder is introduced into a porous mold which is rotated at a speed sufficient to create a centrifugal force that forces the slip radially outward toward the inner surface of the mold. The suspended powder, which is formed of particles having large dimensional aspect ratios such as particles of superconductive BSCCO, settles in a textured fashion radially outward toward the mold surface. The carrier fluid of the slip passes by capillary action radially outward around the settled particles and into the absorbent mold. A layer of mold release material is preferably centrifugally slip cast to cover the mold inner surface prior to the introduction of the BSCCO slip, and the mold release layer facilitates removal of the BSCCO greenbody from the mold without fracturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Greg A. Steinlage, Kevin P. Trumble, Keith J. Bowman
  • Patent number: 5998336
    Abstract: A composite superconducting material made of coated particles of ceramic superconducting material and a metal matrix material. The metal matrix material fills the regions between the coated particles. The coating material is a material that is chemically nonreactive with the ceramic. Preferably, it is silver. The coating serves to chemically insulate the ceramic from the metal matrix material. The metal matrix material is a metal that is susceptible to the superconducting proximity effect. Preferably, it is a NbTi alloy. The metal matrix material is induced to become superconducting by the superconducting proximity effect when the temperature of the material goes below the critical temperature of the ceramic. The material has the improved mechanical properties of the metal matrix material. Preferably, the material consists of approximately 10% NbTi, 90% coated ceramic particles (by volume). Certain aspects of the material and method will depend upon the particular ceramic superconductor employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Matthew J. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 5981445
    Abstract: The new preparation process for making fine high specific surface ceramic powders suitable as catalysts or precursors for ceramics uses lanthanum (or other rare earth lanthanide) oxide as one of the precursors. The oxide is mixed with water to form a liquid slurry, whereby it is transformed to the hydroxide by reaction with water. The resulting hydroxide slurry, which can be milled to reduce the particle size and to speed up the reaction, is then combined, while stirring vigorously to assure homogenous mixing, with a solution of required amount of remaining metal nitrate precursors, for example strontium and cobalt nitrates. The reaction between lanthanum hydroxide and transition metal nitrates produces a colored (color depending on the transition metal) slurry consisting of metal hydroxides suspended in aqueous nitrate solution with pH>2. This perovskite precursor slurry is spray-frozen and freeze dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Corporation de I'Ecole Polytechnique
    Inventors: Jitka Kirchnerova, Danilo Klvana
  • Patent number: 5932524
    Abstract: A high Tc superconducting ceramic material is produced by a method in which a mixture of chemicals in suitable amounts is compacted into a desired form. The compacted mixture is then fired and, at the same time, an electric current is caused to pass through the compacted mixture in a predetermined direction. By virtue of the passage of the current through the material during firing, the orderliness of the molecular arrangement is enhanced and an elevated transition temperature Tc is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5929001
    Abstract: A method of preparing a high temperature superconductor. A method of preparing a superconductor includes providing a powdered high temperature superconductor and a nanophase material. These components are combined to form a solid compacted mass with the material disposed in the polycrystalline high temperature superconductor. This combined mixture is rapidly heated, forming a dispersion of nanophase size particles without a eutectic reaction. These nanophase particles can have a flat plate or columnar type morphology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: University of Chicago
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Goretta, Michael T. Lanagan, Dean J. Miller, Suvankar Sengupta, John C. Parker, Jieguang Hu, Uthamalingam Balachandran, Richard W. Siegel, Donglu Shi
  • Patent number: 5869432
    Abstract: A bulk high temperature superconductor single crystal having the formula MBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb; and, x has a number value from about 0.1 to about 1.0; are produced by a novel process incorporating: i) starting powders produced by combustion spray pyrolysis, ii) a novel setter powder, and/or iii) a monitored isothermal growth process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Ilhan A. Aksay, Edward P. Vicenzi, David L. Milius, John S. Lettow
  • Patent number: 5849668
    Abstract: An oxide superconductor which exhibits an uniform and high critical current density. Further, a method of manufacturing this oxide superconductor, namely, a RE--Ba--Cu--O oxide superconductor (RE is one or more kinds of rare earth elements including Y) by performing a treatment, which includes at least a burning process to be performed in a range of temperatures that are higher than a melting point of a raw material mixture containing a RE-compound raw material, Ba-compound raw material and a Cu-compound raw material, on the raw material mixture. This method further comprises a step of crushing the raw material mixture into particles and establishing the mean particle diameter of one or all of the raw materials as ranging from 50 to 80 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamaguchi, Shuichi Kohayashi, Shuetsu Haseyama, Shuji Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 5789348
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a precursor metallic powder composition for use in the subsequent formation of a superconductor. The process comprises the steps of providing an electrodeposition bath comprising an electrolyte medium and a cathode substrate electrode, and providing to the bath one or more soluble salts of one or more respective metals which are capable of exhibiting superconductor properties upon subsequent appropriate treatment. The bath is continually energized to cause the metallic and/or reduced particles formed at the electrode to drop as a powder from the electrode into the bath, and this powder, which is a precursor powder for superconductor production, is recovered from the bath for subsequent treatment. The process permits direct inclusion of all metals in the preparation of the precursor powder, and yields an amorphous product mixed on an atomic scale to thereby impart inherent high reactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Raghunath Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 5786304
    Abstract: A joining product of oxide superconducting materials having a high current density and process for producing the same. A joining product comprising a plurality of oxide superconducting materials having an identical crystal orientation joined with each other through a superconducting phase of the same type as described above which has the same crystal orientation as the oxide superconducting materials and a lower peritectic temperature than the oxide superconducting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Kimura, Katuyoshi Miyamoto, Misao Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5747425
    Abstract: High T.sub.c superconducting magnetic shields are provided, together with a method of fabricating such shields, wherein the shields exhibit very high critical applied magnetic field values of at least about 50 Gauss at 77 K. In fabrication procedures, a particulate superconducting ceramic oxide (24) (e.g., thallium 2223) is placed within an uniaxial die assembly (10) and subjected to compression while the die is heated via an external heating jacket (26). After formation of a self-sustaining body (24a), the die (10) is additionally heated via the jacket (26). External heating of the die (10) with the superconducting material therein reduces internal stresses within the shield body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Midwest Superconductivity Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Xin, Wangsong He, Michael S. P. Lucas, Xin Fei, Yi-Han Kao
  • Patent number: 5697044
    Abstract: A high-temperature YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x superconducting sintered body is produced through wet grain-coating process in which starting grains are soaked in SnI.sub.4 solution, pressed after the removal of solvent and then sintered at a given temperature, and has a critical current density of at least 500 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Kyushu University
    Inventors: Hisao Kuriyaki, Kazuyoshi Hirakawa, Xuguang Zheng