Products · Superconductor components

MgB2 Superconductor Wires

See how we fill and draw MgB₂ wire ↓

Hyper Tech manufactures a variety of standard and custom MgB2 superconductors for specific applications and research requirements.

Customized MgB2 Superconductors

Hyper Tech has the ability to configure its MgB2 conductors for both customized DC and AC applications, and therefore manufactures both a DC MgB2 conductor and a low AC loss MgB2 conductor.

In the ongoing effort to eliminate liquid cryogen, the temperature tolerance of MgB2 better suits it for dry operation using only a cryocooler and conduction cooling.

Key Advantages of MgB2

Advantages Over Permanent Magnets

When compared with permanent magnets, there are two potential advantages of MgB2:

  • The possibility of achieving magnetic field strengths of considerably more than 0.4 Tesla (up to 1.5–2.0 Tesla) with a lower initial capital equipment cost and lower life-cycle costs.
  • Higher field strengths and larger zones of homogeneous magnetic field can be achieved with MgB2 superconductors than with permanent magnets.

Advantages Over Low-Temperature Superconductors

Compared with low-temperature superconductors, the life-cycle costs of MgB2 coils are lower due to the higher operating temperature and associated refrigeration cost.

Advantages Over High-Temperature Superconductors

Advantages of MgB2 as compared with high-temperature superconductors include:

  • Lower life-cycle costs.
  • Can be easily fabricated as a round wire, allowing customization of size (amperage and engineering current density, Je) to meet specific power ratings for applications such as motors or generators.
  • Can be easily twisted, cabled, and braided.

MgB2 conductor gallery

Exp-2671-B-0.834mm-FTO-1 - Monofilament
Exp-2671-B-0.834mm-FTO-1 - Monofilament
9551 - Strand Architecture
9551 - Strand Architecture
9041 - 3x3 Cable
9041 - 3x3 Cable
Exp 3499--1.008mm--RTO
Exp 3499--1.008mm--RTO
1066 - Shaped Wire
1066 - Shaped Wire
Exp-2032-5mm-3 - 12-Strand Cable
Exp-2032-5mm-3 - 12-Strand Cable
1478 - Stringers Within Wire
1478 - Stringers Within Wire
S1015 - Wire in Channel
S1015 - Wire in Channel
SEM of 54 fil at 0.51 0.35 and 0.20
SEM of 54 fil at 0.51 0.35 and 0.20
Exp 3823 61 cable
Exp 3823 61 cable
Exp518 1
Exp518 1
18 filament MgB2 cross section
18 filament MgB2 cross section
61 restack Exp 820
61 restack Exp 820
SEM picture of 114 fil x section
SEM picture of 114 fil x section
Fine wire Exp 1097 .117mm
Fine wire Exp 1097 .117mm

How we make it

Filling and drawing: how MgB2 wire is made

Hyper Tech developed and patented a continuous tube forming and filling (CTFF) process for powder-metallurgy MgB2 wire in 2002. It is what let the company become the first to make viable long-length MgB2 wire. Here is the route, simplified.

Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.

Close-up of tube forming, filling and drawing A flat metal strip is rolled into a U-shaped channel while magnesium and boron powder falls into it, then the channel closes into a filled tube. The tube is pulled through two drawing dies; each die makes it thinner and longer, so the marks on the tube spread further apart and move faster. CLOSE-UP · FORM, FILL AND DRAW Continuous tube forming and filling powder Flat stripFilled U-channelClosed tube Drawing through dies Die 1Die 2 slowfasterfastest Each pass makes the wire thinner and longer; marks on it spread apart.
The MgB2 wire production line Magnesium and boron powders are blended and fed into a metal strip that is rolled into a filled tube. The tube is drawn through dies to a thin wire, cut and restacked into a multifilament bundle and drawn again, heat treated so the powders react to form MgB2, and wound onto a spool in lengths of kilometres. 1 BLEND2 FORM AND FILL3 DRAW4 RESTACK5 HEAT TREAT6 SPOOL Mg + B powders Metal strip Drawing dies Cut, restack and redraw Mg + B react to form MgB2 0.0 km single pieces up to 20 km
Simplified illustration of the route, not to scale. Materials, filament counts and treatment conditions vary by product.
2002CTFF process developed and patented; MgB2 production began the same year
10,000+ km/yrCapacity of the 41,000 sq ft Columbus, Ohio facility, for MgB2 and Nb3Sn wire
1–20 kmSingle-piece lengths, depending on diameter and conductor type