Abstract: An oxide superconductor having good current-carrying characteristics can be manufactured by a method including the steps of mixing and baking a plurality of different kinds of ingredient material at a predetermined proportion and obtaining a mixed powder having oxide superconducting powder as a main ingredient, and the step of placing a magnet close to the mixed powder to separate the oxide superconducting powder through the utilization of the magnetic repulsive force due to the Meissner effect of the superconductor. In preferred embodiments, the separating step is carried out in a buoyancy medium and a filter is employed for unifying the particle size of the oxide superconductive powder within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A purification apparatus for superconductor fine particles is provided which comprises a device for forming a flow of powder containing the superconductor fine particles, and device for applying a magnetic field to the flow of the powder.

Abstract: The specification and drawings describe a series of devices and methods for classifying and separating superconductive particles. The superconductive particles may be separated from non-superconductive particles, and the superconductive particles may be separated by degrees of susceptibility to the Meissner effect force. The particles may also be simultaneously separated by size or volume and mass to obtain substantially homogeneous groups of particles. The separation techniques include levitation, preferential sedimentation and preferential concentration. Multiple separation vector forces are disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an invention for beneficiation of powered material having superconducting characteristics and processes for carrying it out. The invention involves introducing powdered superconducting material into the vertical field of a magnet wherein particles thereof are levitated according to the Meissner Effect. Particles which are more superconducting levitate at higher elevations or states above the magnet than do particles containing phases that are non-superconducting. Particles that are non-superconducting do not react at all in the magnetic field. Levitated particles are selectively harvested from whatever states desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating at least one superconductive phase from a multiphase material which may contain multiple superconductive phases and a normal phase by the use of diamagnetic force. A material containing multiple phases is pulverized into granules approximately the grain size of a selected superconductive phase and is then subjected to a force to cause movement of the particles in a particular direction. The selected superconductive phase is made superconducting by cooling the material below its transition temperature. Diamagnetic force is then generated by an applied magnetic field which deflects and separates the superconducting granules but has substantially no effect on the nonsuperconducting granules. Conversely, the selected superconductive phase has a magnetic field applied to it and then is made superconducting to cause a separation.