Abstract: Articles comprising a quantity of superconductive oxide material can be fabricated by a process that comprises melting of part of an oxide precursor material, with resultant directional resolidification. Exemplary embodiments comprise zone melting and movement of the hot zone through the precursor material. The method can result in superconductive material having improved properties, e.g., higher critical current, as compared to prior art oxide superconductors.

Abstract: Disclosed are normal metal-clad superconductive bodies (e.g., wires, ribbons) having a normal metal cladding that is porous during at least a part of the manufacture of the body. The porous cladding permits access of an ambient atmosphere to the superconductive material. Exemplarily, the superconductive material is an oxide such as a (Ba, Y) cuprate, the normal metal cladding comprises Ag particles (or Ag-coated particles), and the body is treated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Techniques for producing such a body are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electrical interconnections are made by means of a layer or sheet medium comprising chains of magnetically aligned, electrically conducting particles in a nonconducting matrix material. End particles of chains protrude from a surface of the medium, thereby enhancing electrical contact properties of the medium. The medium can be used for temporary as well as permanent connections; in the latter case the use of a nonconductive adhesive material is convenient for physical attachment to contacts on both sides of the medium.

Abstract: Superconductive oxide bodies such as wires, ribbons, rods, and other bulk bodies can be fabricated by a process that comprises melting precursor material, cooling at least of the melt such that a solid body of a desired shape results, and heat treating the solid body in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The precursor material exemplarily is in the form of pressed superconductive oxide powder. The re-solidified superconductive material is relatively dense, typically textured, with relatively large grain size, and has improved properties, e.g., higher critical current density. An exemplary technique for melting of the precursor material is zone melting.

Abstract: A compressible thermally conductive member comprises a polymer field with thermally conducting-magnetically aligned particles comprising a base portion and a multiplicity of protrusions extending from at least one surface of the base portion.

Abstract: A method of producing normal-metal-clad superconductive oxide wire, tape and the like is disclosed. The method comprises forming an intermediate body by surrounding a quantity of the oxide powder (e.g., Ba.sub.2 YCu.sub.3 O.sub.6.9) with an appropriate normal metal jacket, reducing the cross section of the intermediate body by any appropriate technique (e.g., drawing or rolling), and heat treating the elongated body such that substantial sintering of the powder results, and such that, after completion of the heat treatment, the sintered oxide has a composition that is associated with superconductivity in unclad bulk samples of the oxide. The latter condition requires that at least the portion of the cladding that is in contact with the oxide powder is substantially inert with respect to oxygen and the oxide under the conditions of the heat treatment. Silver is the currently preferred inert normal metal. Exemplarily, Ag can be used to provide a diffusion barrier with other normal metal (e.g.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection medium is made as a composite of electrically conducting, magnetic particles in a nonconductive matrix material. Particles are magnetically aligned into a network which extends in at least two dimensions as, e.g., in a sheet or layer medium. A layer medium may further include additional, larger conductive particles which may be magnetically aligned into columns extending the thickness of the medium; typically, in this case, the medium serves as an anisotropically conductive medium in the direction of the columns, with slight in-plane conductivity imparted by the network aiding the dissipation of electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A compressible thermally conductive member comprises a polymer field with thermally conducting magnetically aligned particles comprising a base portion and a multiplicity of protrusions extending from at least one surface of the base portion.

Abstract: Devices such as, e.g., switches, flowmeters, and proximity sensors, as well as implant devices are made comprising an elongated ferromagnetic element. When the element is exposed to a variable magnetic field an electrical signal is obtained between contact points of the element in response to a change in the magnetic field. Preferred elongated elements have a helically deformed microduplex structure as may be produced by heat treatment and plastic twisting of a body of an alloy such as, e.g., an iron-nickel alloy.

Abstract: Electrical interconnection is established by means of an anisotropically conductive, composite layer medium comprising electrically conductive particles in a nonconductive matrix material. Enhanced uniformity of conductivity across the medium, and minimized incidence of lateral shorting are achieved as a result of essentially uniform distribution of electrically conductive particles which are also magnetic, such distribution resulting upon application of a magnetic field essentially perpendicular to a layer before or during hardening of the matrix material.

Abstract: Electrical signals are produced by a pressure-responsive device, such signals being indicative of the position of locally applied pressure. The device comprises a position sensor assembly which comprises a composite layer medium including electrically conductive magnetic particles in a nonconductive matrix material. The particles are aligned into chains extending across the thickness of the layer, and chains include a non-conductive gap which is bridged upon application of sufficient pressure. The medium is sandwiched between sheet electrodes, and the resulting assembly may be transparent as is advantageous in writing pad and touch-sensitive screen applications. The pressure-responsive device is suitable, e.g., as an input device in graphics information systems, in combination with transmission and display facilities.

Abstract: Wide temperature range magnetic bubble memories are realized by using new compositions of rare earth garnets which require nonlinear bias field for operation over a given temperature range. The bias field structure for providing the corresponding nonlinear bias field includes plates of barium ferrite plus additional plates of Ni-Cu alloys and/or polycrystalline dysprosium (or other rare earths, singly or in combination) iron garnet to provide a nonlinear bias field versus temperature characteristic to match that of the bubble layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are magnetically soft ferritic multiphase Fe-Cr-Ni alloys containing at least about 82 weight percent Fe, between about 3 and about 10 weight percent Cr, and between about 2 and about 8 weight percent Ni, a method for producing such alloys, and devices comprising such an alloy body. The method comprises a low-temperature anneal in the (.alpha.+.gamma.) region of the Fe-Cr-Ni phase diagram. Inventive alloys typically have a coercive force H.sub.c no more than about 3.0 Oe, preferably no more than about 2.0 Oe, a maximum permeability .mu..sub.m of at least about 1500 G/Oe, preferably at least about 2500 G/Oe, and contain at least about 5 volume percent non-.alpha.-phase material, typically .alpha.'- and .gamma.-phase material. Inventive alloys typically also have yield strength to 0.2% offset of at least about 26.10.sup.7 Pa (40.10.sup.3 psi), elongation to fracture of at least about 15%, good formability and rust resistance.

Abstract: Fe--Cr--Co alloys have found application in the manufacture of permanent magnets on account of magnetic properties such as, high coercive force, remanent magnetization, and energy product. A method is disclosed for producing magnetic articles comprising Fe, Cr, and Co from powders comprising elemental or pre-alloyed particles. A powder is mixed with an essentially noncarbonizing organic binder, compressed, heated to remove binder, sintered, and aged. Heating results in essentially complete removal of binder prior to sintering.Magnetic bodies produced according to the disclosed method typically comprise less than 1 weight percent of undesirable nonmagnetic phases and have a maximum energy product of at least 1 million gauss oersted.

Abstract: Disclosed are magnetically soft ferritic multiphase Fe-Ni alloys having a Ni content in the range of about 4 to about 16 weight percent, devices containing a body fabricated from such alloys, and method for heat treating such body. Appropriate heat treatment comprises a low-temperature anneal in the two-phase (.alpha.+.gamma.) region of the Fe-Ni phase diagram, and typically results in improved magnetic properties. In particular, alloys according to the invention having x weight percent of Ni have a maximum permeability .mu..sub.m at least as large as 1.5[25(16-x).sup.2 ]G/Oe. The alloys typically also have a coercive field H.sub.c at most as large as 0.7[0.65(1+0.6x)]Oe, a saturation induction B.sub.s of at least about 20 kG, a maximum incremental permeability .DELTA..mu., measured with an applied a.c. field of about 0.005 Oe, of at least about 150 G/Oe, and a yield strength to 0.2 percent offset of at least about 40 10.sup.3 psi, with all the material properties measured at room temperature.

Abstract: Magnetic material is made by reducing an oxide powder compact having at least one nonreducible oxide species. A typical mixture of nickel, iron, and aluminum oxides selectively reduces to form a material having a typical permeability of 10 or more and high resistivity. Reduced eddy current losses occur in devices made from such material.

Abstract: In view of rising cobalt costs, low-cobalt alloys such as, e.g., Fe-Cr-Co alloys are finding increasing use in the manufacture of permanent magnets. Desired magnetic energy product of such magnets is typically at least 1 million gauss-oersted.In the interest of maximizing magnetic energy product per unit weight cobalt, low-cobalt Fe-Cr-Co alloys are processed by solidifying a bulk object from a melt, annealing, quenching, and aging by cooling at rates in a range of 0.1 to 2 degrees C. per hour in a magnetic field. Cold working prior to aging may be used to further enhance magnetic energy product.Resulting magnets have optimized maximum magnetic energy product (BH).sub.max per unit weight cobalt comprised in an alloy.

Abstract: Electroacoustic devices are disclosed which comprise a permanent magnet and a magnetically permeable component. The permanent magnet is made of an Fe-Cr-Co alloy comprising 20-40 weight percent Cr and 3-30 weight percent Co; the permeable component is made of an Fe-Al alloy comprising 1.5-18 weight percent Al.In addition to a magnetic circuit, disclosed devices comprise means such as, e.g., an induction coil for inducing a variable magnetic field in the magnetic circuit. Also, devices comprise means for utilizing energy output in response to the magnetic field. Energy output may typically be in the form of an acoustical signal having desirably flat frequency response. Due to their low cost, disclosed devices are particularly suitable for use in telephone receivers and other mass produced articles.

Abstract: The disclosed magnetic devices, including a magnetically coupled conducting path, incorporate amorphous, low magnetostriction alloys of the general formula (Co.sub.a Fe.sub.b T.sub.c).sub.i X.sub.j, the "metallic" constituents thereof being within the parenthetical expression. T, in the formulation, is selected from among Ni, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Mo, W, Nb, Zr, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au, X being at least one "glass former" selected from among P, Si, B, C, As, Ge, Al, Ga, In, Sb, Bi and Sn. The "metallic" constituents comprise from 70-90 atomic percent of the alloy with cobalt being present in an amount of at least 70 atomic percent of the "metallic" constituents. The described material has been prepared by rapid cooling from the liquid, directly to the shape needed for fabrication of the device (e.g., tape to be wound to form an inductor core).