Fabrication of multi-filamentary LRE123 superconductors

Abstract

The fabrication of multi-filamentary LRE123 (LRE=Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) superconductors was examined. The precursor LRE123 filaments were prepared by solution spinning through aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solution containing mixed Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ba and Cu acetates. The as-drawn filaments were heated to remove volatile components and were oxygen controlled melt growth processed in flowing 1%O 2+Ar and 0.1%O 2+Ar and then oxygenated. The filamentary superconductors were passed through Ag paste and sintered. By controlling the heating condition, a composite with excellent connection between the filaments and metallic Ag matrix was obtained. An overall transport critical current ( J e) of more than 1900 A/cm 2 at 77 K and 0 T was achieved for the composite with LRE123 filaments partially melted in flowing 0.1%O 2+Ar. The superconductivity at 77 K was maintained by applying a field more than 10 T. The field dependence of J e for the composite with LRE123 filaments was superior for the composite with Y123 filaments.