Licensable Technologies : Materials : Thin/Thick Films

Synthesis of Magnesium Diboride by Magnesium Vapor Infiltration Process (MVIP)

Abstract
Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a process for preparing superconducting magnesium diboride powder by heating an admixture of solid magnesium and amorphous boron powder or pellet under an inert atmosphere in a Mg:B ratio of greater than about 0.6:1 at temperatures and for time sufficient to form said superconducting magnesium diboride. The process can further include exposure to residual oxygen at high synthesis temperatures followed by slow cooling. In the cooling process oxygen atoms dissolved into MgB2 segregated to form nanometer-sized coherent Mg(B,O) precipitates in the MgB2 matrix, which can act as flux pinning centers.

Application(s)
� Superconducting wires and tapes

Advantages
� Provides for a more cost effective process of producing high quality MgB2 for superconducting wires and tapes compared with existing processes and materials.

IP Status: Available Exclusively

Reference Number: 205

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 97,804

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6511943 Issued on 01/28/2003

Posted: 09-16-2004

Contact
John Russell
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-3941
jrussell@lanl.gov