Carbon fiber reinforced tin-superconductor composites

Abstract

Unidirectional and continuous carbon fiber tin-matrix composites were used for the packaging of the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7–δ by diffusion bonding at 170 °C and 500 psi. Tin served as the adhesive and to increase the ductility, the normal-state electrical conductivity, and the thermal conductivity. Carbon fibers served to increase the strength and the modulus, both in tension along the fiber direction and in compression perpendicular to the fiber layers, though they decreased the strength in compression along the fiber direction. Carbon fibers also served to increase the thermal conductivity and the thermal fatigue resistance. At 24 vol. % fibers, the tensile strength was approximately equal to the compressive strength perpendicular to the fiber layers. With further increase of the fiber content, the tensile strength exceeded the compressive strength perpendicular to the fiber layers, reaching 134 MPa at 31 vol. % fibers. For fiber contents less than 30 vol. %, the compressive ductility perpendicular to the fiber layers exceeded that of the plain superconductor. At 30 vol. % fibers, the tensile modulus reached 15 GPa at room temperature and 27 GPa at 77 K. The tensile load was essentially sustained by the carbon fibers and the superconducting behavior was maintained after tension almost to the point of tensile fracture. Neither Tc nor Jc was affected by the composite processing.