Structure, grain connectivity and pinning of as-deformed commercial MgB2 powder in Cu and Fe/Cu sheaths

Abstract

Single-core MgB2 wires and tapes have been made by the powder-in-tube (PIT) method using commercial MgB2 powder (Alfa Aesar). Composites have been made using the two-axial rolling process in Cu and/or Fe/Cu sheaths. Alternative deformations by wire drawing, rotary swaging and cold isostatic pressing have been applied to PIT wires and tapes. Current–voltage characteristics and transport current densities in the self-field and in the external field were measured. It was found that the grain connectivity of ex situ MgB2 is affected by the applied sheath and the mode of deformation. Two-axial rolling has generated the highest powder density resulting in the best grain connectivity. The highest transport current densities of 8700 A cm−2 and 55 830 A cm−2 were measured for Cu and Fe/Cu sheathed square wires, respectively. Cold isostatic pressing at 1.5 GPa has increased current density and n-exponent, which suggests an improvement in grain connectivity. It was found that the external pressure improves the inter-grain connectivity but decreases the pinning in MgB2 cores.