Advances in second generation high temperature superconducting wire manufacturing andR&D at American Superconductor Corporation

Abstract

The RABiTS™/MOD-YBCO (rolling assisted biaxially textured substrate/metal–organic depositionof YBa2Cu3O7−δ) route has been established as a low-cost manufacturing process for producing highperformance second generation (2G) wire. American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC)has used this approach to establish a production scale manufacturing line based on awide-web manufacturing process. This initial production line is currently capableof producing 2G wire in lengths to 500 m with critical currents exceeding 250 A cmwidth−1 at 77 K, in the self-field. The wide-web process, combined with slitting and laminationprocesses, allows customization of the 2G wire width and stabilizer composition to meetapplication specific wire requirements. The production line is currently supplying 2G wirefor multiple cable, fault current limiter and coil applications. Ongoing R&D is focused on thedevelopment of thicker YBCO layers and improved flux pinning centers. This paper reviewsthe history of 2G wire development at AMSC, summarizes the current capability ofthe 2G wire manufacturing at AMSC, and describes future R&D improvements.