ELECTRICAL, THERMAL AND MECHANICAL STABILITY OF AFM BSCCO-2223 COMPOSITE CONDUCTORS FOR CURRENT LEAD APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In this work, the relevant properties of AFM BSCCO-2223/AgAu composite conductors and the most crucial technical problems faced in the design and manufacturing of current leads (CLs) are presented and discussed. Important issues such as thermal stability of AFM conductors, their effective mechanical reinforcement and the viable technical solutions for kA-class CLs are addressed. AFM BSCCO-2223 composite conductors and kA-class AFM bundles went through an extensive electrical, thermal and mechanical characterisation in order to evaluate and possibly improve their overall performances and to increase their potential and range of application. Experimental results on ageing tests on AFM specimens, with and without mechanical reinforcement, after thermal cycling in liquid nitrogen and quench experiments, induced by overcurrents and/or lacking of cooling, are reported and discussed in detail.