Electrical and mechanical properties of superconductingMgB2/Mg metal matrix composites

Abstract

MgB2/Mg composites were prepared using a metal matrix composite fabricationmethod that offers the potential to produce superconducting wires as analternative approach to the powder in tube process. To obtain composites,MgB2 and Mg powders were mixed at different weight fractions and uniaxially pressed in acylindrical die under the pressure of 0.5 and 1.0 GPa for two hours at varioustemperatures. The x-ray diffraction technique was used for phase identification.Temperature dependence of resistivity and magnetization measurements werecarried out to determine superconducting properties. The effects of compositefabrication temperature and the addition of the Mg on the mechanical properties ofMgB2/Mg composites were investigated. For this purpose, the compressive mechanical testing wasperformed to measure the elastic modulus and fracture strength values of the composites. Itwas found that the relative weight fraction of the Mg and the fabrication conditions of thecomposites have considerable effect on the superconducting and mechanical properties ofthe composites.