Superconductivity of MgB2 Composited with Mg-Zn Alloys

Abstract

The three-dimensional penetration method combined with semi-solid casting was used to fabricate metal-powder composite superconducting materials of MgB2 with magnesium alloys: MgB2/Mg - xwt% Zn (x = 1, 3, 6, 9). X-ray diffraction measurements indicated predominant peak patterns of MgB2 and a host alloy. Measured electrical resistivity (ρ) versus temperature showed a clear signal of superconducting transition at about 34 K for all the samples cut out from the composites. External field (H) dependence of ρ(T,H) provided upper critical field of about 5 T. A volume fraction of the superconducting state of the sample estimated from a low external field part of magnetization was almost the same as the nominal ratio of MgB2 powder against the host material. A magnetic hysteresis loop observed at 5 K suggested that an addition of Zn element to magnesium host-matrix little changed the critical current density (Jc). A comparison of the present results with the previous ones of MgB2/Mg-Al-Zn systems confirmed that simultaneously doped Al and Zn were necessary to enhance Jc. Specific heat measurements of the sample with an external field showed that the bulk superconductivity of MgB2 was well conserved in the composites.