Abstract: A process for joining ceramic superconductor fibers with a channel to fabricate a superconductor wire includes concertedly drawing the fibers and the channel together to feed the fibers into the channel. A flowable solder paste is continuously dispensed into the channel over the fibers. The combination of channel, fibers and solder paste is then subjected to a rapid rise in temperature which melts the solder. The molten solder is then frozen to encase the fibers in the solder and attach the solder to the channel to create a superconductor wire.

Abstract: A ceramic superconductor comprises a substantially nonmagnetic preannealed nickel-based alloy substrate which supports a ceramic superconductor. The substrate may include aluminum to strengthen the substrate, make it less magnetic and enhance its chemical compatibility with the ceramic superconductor. The ceramic is formed on the substrate by sintering superconductor grains at temperatures above 1000.degree. C. to enhance densification of the ceramic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a superconductor wire has a wire take-up spool and a feed speed control spool. A wire substrate is taken from the feed speed control spool and onto the take-up spool as the wire take-up spool is rotated. The wire passes through a container which holds a diffusion barrier material, where the diffusion barrier material is electrophoretically deposited onto the wire substrate and subsequently sintered. The wire is also passed through a container which holds a superconductor material suspended in solution, and a layer of the superconductor material is electrophoretically deposited onto the diffusion barrier. The grains of the superconductor layer are then magnetically aligned and sintered. Also, a silver coating is electrophoretically deposited onto the superconductor layer and sintered. A diffusion bonding inhibitor material is then applied to the silver coating. Then, the silver-coated superconductor wire is spooled and heated to four hundred degrees centigrade (400.

Abstract: A device for aligning superconductor filaments to form a filament layer includes a backboard and a number of motor-driven supply spools. Each of the supply spools is rotatably mounted on the backboard, and each of the supply spools holds one end of an individual superconductor filament. The opposite ends of the filaments are attached to a single rotatable wire take-up spool. Accordingly, the wire take-up spool can be rotated to transfer the filaments from the respective supply spools to the take-up spool. A combiner board is mounted on the backboard normal to the backboard between the supply spools and the wire take-up spool. The combiner board receives each of the superconductor filaments as the filaments are transferred from the respective supply spools to the take-up spool to guide the filaments into a layer of aligned superconductor filaments. Additionally, each supply spool has a tension controller individually associated with the respective supply spool.

Abstract: An aqueous and method for manufacturing a ceramic superconductor coated metal fiber comprises a container for holding a nonaqueous solution inwhich particles of superconductor material are colloidally suspended to form a slurry. A voltage source is provided to influence the slurry with an electric field and a magnet device is provided to influence the slurry with a magnetic field. The magnetic field is oriented relative to the fiber to align the superconductor particles of the slurry in a desired orientation for subsequent attachment onto the surface of the fiber. The voltage source is connected to the metal fiber to electrically bias the fiber as it is drawn through the slurry. Consequently, charged superconductor particles in the slurry attach to the electrically biased fiber. Subsequently, the coated fiber is heated to sinter the aligned particles and establish a ceramic superconductor shell on the metallic fiber substrate.

Abstract: A substrate for supporting a ceramic superconductor comprises a metallic base member precoated with an yttrium oxide, rare earth oxide, or zirconium oxide layer and having a constituent oxide former which establishes an oxide layer with the yttrium oxide, rear earth oxide, or zirconium oxide on the surface of the substrate. A layer of ceramic superconducting material covers the substrate with the oxide layer between the metallic base member and the ceramic superconductor layer to inhibit the interdiffusion of respective constituent elements between the metallic base member and the ceramic layer. For applications requiring the transmission of electrical current through the ceramic layer over relatively extensive distances, the substrate can be formed as a wire or ribbon.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a predetermined tension of a wire has a rotatable wire supply spool, a motor-driven wire take-up spool, a motor-drive wire feed spool. The wire is wound around the supply spool and is also attached to the take-up spool. The wire also passes partially around the feed spool and a pulley or guide which is attached to a pivot arm. The pivot arm is positioned between the take-up spool and the supply spool. A frictional layer is disposed around the outer circumferential surface of the feed spool, to prevent the wire from sliding across the frictional layer of the feed spool.The elongated pivot arm that has its free end positioned against the wire. The pivot arm pivots in response to the differences in speed between the supply and take-up spool. A motion sensor detects motion of the pivot arm and generates a control signal in response. The control signal is electrically conducted to a stepper motor.

Abstract: A process for depositing a silver coating onto a superconductor involves placing the superconductor into an alcohol solution, preferably octanol, which contains silver particles. Each silver particle is coated with a layer of oleic acid. An electrode, preferably made of silver, is also disposed in the anhydrous solution. A direct current voltage is then established on the electrode, which causes the silver particles to plate onto the superconductor. After electrophoresis, the now-plated superconductor is heated to nine hundred degrees centigrade (900.degree. C.) for approximately one (1) minute.

Abstract: A substrate for supporting a ceramic superconductor comprises a metallic base member having a constituent oxide former which establishes an oxide layer on the surface of the substrate. A layer of ceramic superconducting material covers the substrate with the oxide layer between the metallic base member and the ceramic superconductor layer to inhibit the interdiffusion of respective constituent elements between the metallic base member and the ceramic layer. For applications requiring the transmission of electrical current through the ceramic layer over relatively extensive distances, the substrate can be formed as a wire.

Abstract: A ceramic superconductor comprises a substantially nonmagnetic preannealed nickel-based alloy substrate which supports a ceramic superconductor. The substrate may include aluminum to strengthen the substrate and make it less magnetic. The substrate is substantially devoid of minority constitutent oxide shell formers and the ceramic is formed on the substrate by sintering superconductor grains at temperatures above 1000.degree. C. to enhance densification of the ceramic.