US4391657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of niobium-aluminum superconducting material
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1981-07-17
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2001-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Niobium-aluminum superconducting wire and other shaped articles are made by heating a precursor body which comprises niobium, an auxiliary element which is more easily oxidizable than aluminum, and aluminum oxide, the aluminum oxide being supported by a surface or a matrix comprising niobium and the auxiliary element. Among suitable auxiliary elements are zirconium, hafnium, scandium, yttrium, and the nonmagnetic rare earths.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Feldmann
- 👤 John M. Rowell
- 👤 Paul H. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:58
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N60/00; H10N60/80; H10N60/85; H10N60/01; H10N60/0184; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S420/00; Y10S420/901; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/80; Y10S505/812; Y10S505/813; Y10S505/815; Y10S505/818; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/917; Y10S505/918; Y10S505/919; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
Method for making a Nb 3 Al superconducting shaped article which is superconducting at a temperature which is greater than or equal to 10 degrees Kelvin, said method comprising heating a precursor body consisting essentially of a supporting component and a supported component, said supporting component comprising a first element which is niobium and at least one additional element whose chemical affinity for oxygen is greater than the chemical affinity between aluminum an oxygen, said supported component comprising aluminum oxide, and heating being at a temperature in the range of from 800 to 1600 degrees Celsius and for a time which is sufficient to reduce the aluminum oxide and to form an oxide of at least a portion of said at least one additional element, whereby at least a layer consisting essentially of superconducting niobium-aluminum is formed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
Method for making a Nb 3 Al superconducting shaped article which is superconducting at a temperature which is greater than or equal to 10 degrees Kelvin, said method comprising heating a precursor body consisting essentially of a supporting component and a supported component, said supporting component comprising a first element which is niobium and at least one additional element whose chemical affinity for oxygen is greater than the chemical affinity between aluminum an oxygen, said supported component comprising aluminum oxide, and heating being at a temperature in the range of from 800 to 1600 degrees Celsius and for a time which is sufficient to reduce the aluminum oxide and to form an oxide of at least a portion of said at least one additional element, whereby at least a layer consisting essentially of superconducting niobium-aluminum is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method of claim 1 in which a substantial portion of said superconducting niobium-aluminum has beta-tungsten structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 1 in which, in said supporting component, niobium and said at least one additional element are mixed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 1 in which, in said supporting component, niobium and said at least one additional element are alloyed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of claim 1 in which said supported component is essentially a layer on said supporting component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 1 in which said supported component is dispersed in a matrix consisting essentially of said supporting component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method of claim 1 in which said supporting component comprises at least one third element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 7 in which said at least one third element is germanium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method of claim 1 in which said supported component comprises at least one additional oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method of claim 9 in which said at least one additional oxide is germanium oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method of claim 1 in which said superconducting layer has a thickness which is greater than or equal to 1000 Angstroms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method of claim 1 in which said precursor body comprises less than 1 atomic percent magnetic elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method of claim 1 in which said precursor body comprises less than 5 atomic percent hydrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |