EXPLOSIVE PROCESSING OF BULK SUPERCONDUCTORS

Abstract

This paper describes the explosive fabrication of novel, bulk superconducting composites and monolithic prototypes which serve to explore a range of applications including superconducting tapes, two-terminal linear bus structures for solid-state switching applications, and planar arrays for microwave antenna and magnetic shielding. The systems explored include copper and silver matrices encapsulating Yba₂Cu₃O₇ superconducting powder and metal powder mixtures (Cu and Ag), Bi₇Pb₃Sr₁₀Ca₁₀Cu₁₅O₇ in copper, and Y-Ba-Cu-O and Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O in copper/silver/6061 -T6 aluminum alloy composites. The optimization of the powder consolidation and metal-matrix welding as well as shock-pressure induced alterations in residual superconductivity are examined by measuring bulk resistance versus temperature (R-T) and microwave surface resistances, relative susceptibilities, and relative levitation heights (as an indication of magnetic flux exclusion) with peak shock wave pressures which characterize the explosive (shock-wave) processing.