Discovered in 2001, MgB₂ superconducting material consists of only two elements, magnesium, and boron, making its crystal structure very simple. It has a low sintering temperature (around 650 ℃) and short sintering time (around 30 minutes), making the manufacturing process easy, and enabling the production of wire materials in various forms.
In particular, the critical temperature (Tc) of MgB₂ superconducting material is 39 K,
which is significantly higher than that of low-temperature superconductors (LTS) such as NbTi (~9 K) and Nb3Sn(~18 K). This higher Tc allows MgB₂ to operate using only electrical energy rather than expensive liquid helium cooling systems,
resulting in lower operating costs.
- High critical temperature: 39 K
- Efficient cooling method: Operable solely with a refrigeration unit, eliminating the need for expensive liquid helium
- Variety of wire rod shapes: Round, Square, Tape etc.
- High productivity: Production of wire materials is achievable through conventional wire drawing processes,
enabling the production of superconducting wires several kilometers in length - Material versatility: Superconducting wire rods can be made using a variety of metals to suit your application
(Nb, Cu, Monel, Ni, Ti, Ti alloy, Fe, Al, etc.) - Enhanced properties: Carbon-doped materials can be used to manufacture wire rods with application-specific properties
- Lightweight: Due to the use of magnesium, a lightweight metal, the final product is able to be made as light as possible.
- Simplicity in structure: Superconductivity is easily achieved with just two powders, magnesium and boron.
- Crystallography: Low anisotropy and absence of weak links
Industrial Sector_Motors
MgB₂ Superconducting Wire - Superconducting Motors
A motor is a device that uses magnetic force to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
When MgB₂ superconducting wire is used in a conventional motor that uses copper coils, it passes current without resistance, allowing for high output and efficiency
It can also reduce the size and weight by up to 1/3 compared to conventional motors with the same output, resulting in reduced operational costs.
Medical Sector_Medical Imaging (MRI)
MgB₂ superconducting wire rod - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI is an imaging diagnostic device that measures the magnetic properties of the materials that make up the human body and reconstructs them using a computer, allowing you to see inside the body in ways that CT or X-ray cannot.
Since higher magnetic field strength leads to more detailed and clearer images, superconducting magnets with high magnetic strength are used in MRI.
While conventional low-temperature superconductors used in MRI magnets require expensive liquid helium, using MgB₂ superconductors allows operation with cryocoolers instead, making it economically feasible.
