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.

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.

Abstract: A method of making an oxide superconductor article includes subjecting an oxide superconductor precursor to a texturing operation to orient grains of the oxide superconductor precursor to obtain a highly textured precursor; and converting the textured oxide superconducting precursor into an oxide superconductor, while simultaneously applying a force to the precursor which at least matches the expansion force experienced by the precursor during phase conversion to the oxide superconductor. The density and the degree of texture of the oxide superconductor precursor are retained during phase conversion. The constraining force may be applied isostatically.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A process for making a superconducting fiber or wire (10) is provided. The superconducting fiber or wire (10) has a superconducting core (12) and a glass cladding outer layer (14). The process comprises melting a superconducting composition (16) and a glass composition (18) and simultaneously drawing the compositions from a bushing (26) with the glass cladding layer (14) surrounding the superconducting core (12). The wire (10) is then annealed to create a superconducting crystalline phase.

Abstract: A method for improving the phase purity of a multiphase ceramic high temperature superconductor by selective microwave heating of undesired phases in a multiphase material to cause a phase transformation of the undesired phase to the desired phase. The selective microwave heating may be employed during initial firing and sintering of the ceramic superconductor compound or as a subsequent annealing step. Plane polarized microwave energy may be employed to enhance the two dimensional anisotropy of the compound by similar selective heating.

Abstract: Mercury-thallium based superconductors with the formula Hg.sub.1-x Tl.sub.x Ba.sub.2 (Ca.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.8+.delta. ; change "their preparing method, in particular characterized in that it" to and a method for preparing them. The new superconductors are prepared by reacting respective ternary oxides, such as Ba.sub.2 CuO.sub.3+x and Ca.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y CuO.sub.2, to reduce the formation of an impure phase and by substituting thallium (Ti) a portion of the mercury (Hg) conventionally used in mercury-based superconductors of similar structure, in order to thermally stabilize the superconductor and provide it with a high critical current density characteristic.

Abstract: A method for improving the phase purity of a multiphase ceramic high temperature superconductor by selective microwave heating of undesired phases in a multiphase material to cause a phase transformation of the undesired phase to the desired phase. The selective microwave heating may be employed during initial firing and sintering of the ceramic superconductor compound or as a subsequent annealing step. Plane polarized microwave energy may be employed to enhance the two dimensional anisotropy of the compound by similar selective heating.

Abstract: A process for fabricating superconducting composite wire by the steps of placing a superconductive precursor admixture capable of undergoing a self propagating combustion in stoichiometric amounts sufficient to form a superconductive product within a metal tube, sealing one end of said tube, igniting said superconductive precursor admixture whereby said superconductive precursor admixture endburns along the length of the admixture, and cross-section reducing said tube at a rate substantially equal to the rate of burning of said superconductive precursor admixture and at a point substantially planar with the burnfront of the superconductive precursor mixture, whereby a clad superconductive product is formed in situ, the product characterized as superconductive without a subsequent sintering stage, is disclosed.

Abstract: A jointed structure comprising at least two kinds of oxide superconductor having different melting points, higher melting point superconductor and one lower melting point oxide superconductor being alternately jointed. In this jointed structure, the lower melting oxide superconductor is used as a joint layer for the higher melting oxide superconductors. The jointed structure can be obtained by combining an Y--Ba--Cu--O oxide superconducting material and a Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O oxide superconducting material, or by combining two Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O oxide superconducting materials of different compositions and accordingly of different melting points. Large cylindrical structures used as, for example, a container for apparatus for biomagnetism measurement can be produced by jointing two or more divided cylindrical parts. In this case, the techique of the jointed structure of the present invention can be applied for jointing of the divided cylindrical parts.

Abstract: A method for fabricating relatively dense monoliths of superconducting material and relatively dense composite monoliths of superconducting material and binder material. The method includes the steps of placing the material to be processed in a die. A relatively high pressure is then applied to the material. Substantially simultaneously, an electrical discharge is applied to the material. The discharge is of a relatively high voltage and current density to provide sharp bonding while maintaining the superconducting properties of the material in the monolith product. A product fabricated by the present method is also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a superconducting circuit by forming a film having a superconducting phase on a substrate and applying a laser beam to a part of the superconducting phase to cause transition of the part of the superconducting phase into a non-superconducting phase.

Abstract: A class of melt-produced, high temperature suerpconductors and processes of making same are provided. The superconductor has a preferred composition of R-Ba-Cu-O wherein R is chosen from the group of rare earth metals excluding: Praseodyium; Cerium; and Terbium. The process is carried out at a relatively low temperature of about 950.degree. C., and the process allows fabrication of melt-produced high temperature superconductors of arbitrary shape. The process is based on the reaction between molten barium-copper oxides and solid rare earth oxides, rare earth barium oxides, rare earth copper oxides, or rare earth barium-copper oxides. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: mixing and grinding BaCO.sub.3 and CuO with other nominal compositions; pressing the resultant mixture into a pellet, if necessary; placing the pellet or powder on a pellet or powder that can include rare earth copper oxides; heating the pellet and/or powders to a temperature of approximately 950.degree. C.

Abstract: Normal paraffins present in high concentrations in light naphtha streams are separated from non-normal paraffins in a four or more bed adsorption system employing, on a cyclic basis, the processing steps of (1) cocurrent purge/adsorption, (2) cocurrent feed/adsorption, (3) countercurrent purge and (4) countercurrent displacement. A processing sequence is employed wherein the cocurrent purge/adsorption and countercurrent purge steps are carried out on a discontinuous basis, while cocurrent feed/adsorption and countercurrent displacement steps are carried out in overlapping sequence.