MgB2 Superconductive Inserts: Products Between Bulks and Wires

A new series of superconductive products is presented. With the aim to growth HTS material inside grooved substrates, it has been discovered that the MgB2 material can be used in a very convenient and versatile way for this kind of manufacts. Applying the well established Reactive Liquid Mg Infiltration (Mg-RLI) technology, to produce MgB2, we prepare large plates, cylinders, bars, decorated by different shapes of superconductive inserts made by MgB2 strips. The substrate material of the insert can be varied according to the needs. The Superconductive Inserts in Metallic Substrates (SIMS) show a mechanical robustness very useful for brittle ceramic like HTS superconductors. The superconducting behavior of the MgB2-SIMS accounts for the advantages of the bulks and of the wires manufacts together. The superconducting characteristics of the SIMS have been checked by transport and magnetization measurements, and the critical current density has the values typical of the well sintered MgB2 bulk manufacts. The first outstanding applications of SIMS can be magnetic shields, current leads and superconducting permanent magnets.