PROCESSING AND FABRICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING COMPOSITE WIRES

THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS HAS LED TO RENEWED INTEREST IN THE LARGE-SCALE APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY. THE PRIMARY OBSTACLE TO THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS IS THE PRESENT INABILITY TO PRODUCE MATERIAL IN USABLE FORMS WITH ADEQUATE CURRENT CARRYING ABILITY AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES. THE PRESENT PROJECT INVOLVES INVESTIGATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF FABRICATING SUPERCONDUCTING OXIDE COMPOSITE WIRES WITH SUPERIOR MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES USING A NOVEL APPROACH CENTERED ON ROOM TEMPERATURE DEFORMATION PROCESSING OF SPECIAL POWER MIXTURES. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH TECHNOLOGY COULD QUICKLY TAKE ADVANCES IN CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTORS TO THE MARKETPLACE.