Momento (Jul 2008)
Conductores recubiertos
Abstract
Since the 1960s, Nb–Ti, exhibiting a superconducting transition temperature Tc of 9K, and Nb3Sn, with a Tc of 18K have been the materials of choice for superconducting applications. The prospects for the future changed dramatically with the discovery of ceramic high temperature superconductors exhibiting Tc values well above the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen (77K). These materials are now widely considered for large power applications, electronics and magnets as in microelectronics. The first case corresponding power transmission wires, motors, generators, fault current limiters, transformers, etc. and technology related small scale manufacturing SQUID superconductors. Nevertheless, the fabrication of useful conductors out of these layered cuprates encountered some problems such as chemical and structural purity, stability, oxygen stoichiometric and weak links limiting current carrying capacity. However, despite these difficulties a first generation of silver sheathed composites based on (Bi,Pb)SrCaCuO (solving the problem of inherent fragility of these materials) has already been commercialized. It is now a widespread view that superconducting wires with high performance under strong magnetic fields and at elevated temperatures above liquid nitrogen, will need to be realized using the (RE)BaCuO (RE = rare earth) materials. Chemical deposition techniques (CVD) of thick films, appear as the most suitable for this purpose, so the study of various chemical deposition techniques that allow to grow superconducting films and buffer layers with the right texture to produce a coated conductor Proper alignment and high current carrying capacity (∼ 1 MA/cm2) are now booming.
