US4299861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the production of a flexible superconductor
Assignee: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
•
Filing: 1979-12-31
•
Granted: 1981-11-10
•
Expires: 1999-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A process for the production of a flexible superconductor comprising a carbon fiber having thereon a layer of niobium carbonitride, and an outer layer of a highly conductive metal. Initially, niobium is deposited on the fiber, and the niobium-coated fiber is then exposed to gaseous sources of carbon and nitrogen while the temperature is subsequently raised.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Dietrich
- 👤 Helmut Wuhl
- 👤 Erich Fitzer
- 👤 Karl Brennfleck
- 👤 Dietrich Kehr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N60/00; H10N60/01; H10N60/0241; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/80; Y10S505/815; Y10S505/818; Y10S505/819
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A process for the production of a flexible superconductor comprising a carbon fiber having thereon a thin layer of a compound of the formula NbC x N y , wherein x is 0.05 to 0.40 and y is 0.60 to 0.90, and x+y has a maximum value of 0.90 to 1.0, and further comprising an external highly conductive metal layer, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a niobium layer in a fine-grained structural configuration on the surface of the carbon fiber, at a temperature of 250° C. to 650° C.; (b) exposing the niobium-coated carbon fiber to a gaseous carbon-containing compound and a gaseous nitrogen-containing compound under pressures higher than or equal to atmospheric pressure, and subsequently raising the temperature of the exposed fiber and the carbon-containing compound and the nitrogen-containing compound, from the niobium-deposition temperature used in step (a) to a minimum temperature of about 600° C. and a maximum temperature of about 1200° C., to allow carbon and nitrogen to diffuse into the niobium layer, with the formation of niobium carbonitride; and (c) applying to the niobium carbonitride layer, a layer of highly conductive metal, by electroless coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process for the production of a flexible superconductor comprising a carbon fiber having thereon a thin layer of a compound of the formula NbC x N y , wherein x is 0.05 to 0.40 and y is 0.60 to 0.90, and x+y has a maximum value of 0.90 to 1.0, and further comprising an external highly conductive metal layer, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a niobium layer in a fine-grained structural configuration on the surface of the carbon fiber, at a temperature of 250° C. to 650° C.; (b) exposing the niobium-coated carbon fiber to a gaseous carbon-containing compound and a gaseous nitrogen-containing compound under pressures higher than or equal to atmospheric pressure, and subsequently raising the temperature of the exposed fiber and the carbon-containing compound and the nitrogen-containing compound, from the niobium-deposition temperature used in step (a) to a minimum temperature of about 600° C. and a maximum temperature of about 1200° C., to allow carbon and nitrogen to diffuse into the niobium layer, with the formation of niobium carbonitride; and (c) applying to the niobium carbonitride layer, a layer of highly conductive metal, by electroless coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the temperature in step (b) is raised to a temperature of about 1050° C. to about 1200° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the deposition of niobium takes place in the presence of ammonia or amine at a temperature in the range of 250° C.-500° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the deposition of niobium takes place at 400° C. to 650° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein niobium is deposited from niobium pentachloride supplied in a stream of hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the highly conductive metal is copper or aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein the copper is applied from a cementation process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the carbon-containing compound is methane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is ammonia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 3, wherein said subsequent raising of temperature is to about 600° C. in step (b).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said niobium layer is deposited without ammonia addition, and said subsequent raising of temperature is to a minimum of 900° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said subsequent raising of temperature in step (b) is for a period of 1 to 90 minutes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process according to claim 5, wherein said niobium layer is deposited for a period of 1 to 10 minutes to produce a layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 1 micron.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carbon-containing compound and the nitrogen-containing compound are the same compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to claim 14, wherein the same compound is (CH 3 ) 3 N, (CH 3 )NH 2 or (CH 3 ) 2 NH.
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) | 1984-11-09 | 1985-05-11 | 1985-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-09 | 1989-05-11 | 1989-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-09 | 1993-05-11 | 1993-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |