Effect of temperature and concentration of solution in chemical treatment for MgB2 powder on the Jc-B property of ex situ processed MgB2 superconducting tapes

MgB2 tapes were fabricated through an ex situ process in a powder-in-tube (PIT) technique using powders treated at elevated temperatures in benzene solutions of benzoic acid with various concentrations. The amount of carbon substitution in MgB2 in heat-treated tapes with treatment at the boiling points (BPs) of the solutions is smaller than that at room temperature (RT). This carbon substitution improves the J(c) property in the high-field region. For RT treatment, the J(c) property is improved with increasing the solution concentration. In contrast, the J(c) property is deteriorated with increasing the concentration for BP treatment. On the other hand, treatment with pure solvent does not bring about the J(c) enhancement and carbon substitution at all at both RT and the BPs. This suggests that acidity essential for the dissolution of MgO layers attached to the surface of MgB2 is required for carbon substitution. The BP treatment enhances the acting of the acidity and possibly inflicts damage on MgB2 itself. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.