MANUFACTURING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MgB₂ SUPERCONDUCTING WIRE THROUGH HOT ROLLING PROCESS

In this study, the synthesis and manufacture of MgB₂/SS 316L Superconducting Wire by In-Situ method through hot rolling with a variety of sintering temperatures and holding time with the novelty of the SS316 sheath and hot rolling method were carried out to maintain the size reduction results without stress concentration and minimal defects. MgB₂ is a superconducting material with a critical temperature of ~39 K. Hot rolling process with a variety of sintering temperatures and holding time was carried out to observe its effect on the superconductivity characteristics of MgB2. The process of synthesis and sample preparation begins by measuring and cutting the SS3I6L tube and weighing the raw materials, which were Mg and B powders with a ratio of 1:2 according to stoichiometric calculations. The material was then grounded for 2 hours using an agate mortar and then put into an SS 316L stainless steel tube where it was completely compacted. Then, the sintering process was carried out using a muffle furnace with variations in sintering temperature of 780°C, 800°C, 820°C, and holding time for 1 hour and 3 hours. After that, a hot rolling process was carried out on each sample with a temperature of 300°C. The samples were characterized by XRD, Cryogenic Magnet and SEM-EDS. The identification through XRD showed that the phases formed were MgB2, MgO, Fe. The Cryogenic Magnet test showed superconductivity at a sintered temperature of 800°C and 820°C with a holding time of 1 hour, where for a sintered temperature of 800°C, it has a Tc^Onset of 39.55 K and a Tc^Zero of 34.69 K while at sintered temperature of 820°C the Tc^Onset is 38, 44 K Tc^Zero is 31.30 K.However, in the MgB₂ sample, the sintered temperature of 780°C with a holding time of 1 hour did not show superconductivity properties. Meanwhile, sintering temperature variation of 780°C, 800°C, 820°C with a holding time of 3 hours showed superconductivity properties, namely the appearance of Tc^Onset and Tc^Zero in each sample. The morphological structure and elemental composition were seen through SEM-EDS, where the surface morphology had a hexagonal grain shape.