PROPERTIES OF HIGH-TC WIRES MADE BY THE METALLIC PRECURSOR PROCESS

The metallic precursor process, used in the production of high-tempera ture super conducting ceramics, exploits the relatively high formabili ty of the metallic state to fabricate multifilament wires with excelle nt transport and mechanical properties. Multifilament wires, containin g 9,583 filaments, exceed by ten fold the filament counts achieved by any other process. Oxide critical current densities of 17.7 kA/cm2 at 77 K in self-field surpass the best electrical performance reported fo r any other process used to fabricate multifilament composite wires. T he mechanical properties of these wires approach the behavior of ideal composites, resulting in the flexibility, durability, and strain tole rance required for large-scale use in power generation, distribution, and end-use applications such as motors and current limiters.