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Fabrication Technologies of Superconducting Cables and Wires

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Superconducting Materials

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Abstract

Nowadays, MRI and NMR magnets, high magnetic fields measurement devices, high-field magnets for accelerators or for nuclear fusion equipment are some examples that largely utilize superconducting cables and wires, which are largely made of the low-temperature superconducting materials (LTS) Nb3Sn and Nb-Ti. The high-temperature superconductors (HTS), with critical temperature exceeding 77 K, displayed very great values of critical current density (Jc), and critical magnetic field (Bc2). Therefore, the ability to utilize cryo-free cooling or liquid nitrogen-based systems for HTS tapes is leading to significant advancements in technical applications like power transmission lines. Among HTS materials, BSCCO was easily made in the forms of round wires and tapes. However, making REBCO into the form of tapes faced some challenges due to the high production cost. Numerous investigations have been focused on these kinds of materials and further developments are still under progress for better industrialization and commercialization. MgB2 superconductor (having Tc ⁓ 39 K) has also the opportunity to be a low-cost superconductor, which can operate at lower refrigerating costs. Promising Jc values have also been attained by the new family of iron-based superconductors (called as pnictides). However, very few studies were performed on tapes based on MgB2 and pnictide materials. The present chapter summarizes the most important requirements for superconducting cables and wires. Then, based on the kind and family of materials, the main manufacturing processes/technologies and recent developments for superconducting tapes and wires are reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Institute for Research & Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia

    Yassine Slimani

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine Research, Institute for Research & Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia

    Essia Hannachi

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  1. Department of Biophysics, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Yassine Slimani

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Essia Hannachi

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Slimani, Y., Hannachi, E. (2022). Fabrication Technologies of Superconducting Cables and Wires. In: Slimani, Y., Hannachi, E. (eds) Superconducting Materials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1211-5_10

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