Improved upper critical field in bulk-form magnesium diboride by mechanical alloying with carbon

Abstract

High-energy milling of magnesium diboride (MgB2) prereacted powder renders the material largely amorphous through extreme mechanical deformation and is suitable for mechanically alloying MgB2 with dopants including carbon. Bulk samples of milled carbon and MgB2 powders subjected to hot isostatic pressing and Mg vapor annealing have achieved upper critical fields in excess of 32T and critical current density approaching 106A∕cm2.