Superconducting materials and their engineering applications

Abstract

A short account is given of the characteristic properties of superconductors and the reasons for the importance of superconductivity in science and technology. The occurrence of the phenomenon in metals, alloys and chemical compounds is briefly discussed, with particular reference to those materials having the highest critical temperatures. The major part of the article is concerned with the applications of superconductivity in engineering, and attention is particularly devoted to materials for magnet construction, the various uses of superconducting magnets, and the other applications of superconductors such as power transmission cables, and transformers. Some forecasts are made regarding the probable developments in superconductivity in the next few years.