US5114905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Crystal alignment technique for superconductors
Assignee: Northeastern University
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Filing: 1990-03-08
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Granted: 1992-05-19
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Expires: 2010-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of processing polycrystalline material by performing multi-axis crystal alignment utilizing anisotropies in the crystalline structure including the step of providing a polycrystalline material in a fluid suspension or malleable form having a magnetic moment. An external force to which the material is reactive is applied to align the individual crystals along a first axis. A magnetic field is applied to orient the magnetic moment of the crystals along a second axis, transverse to the first axis. The crystalline material may have a magnetic moment associated with a rare earth element of the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Bill C. Giessen
- 👤 Robert S. Markiewicz
- 👤 Feng Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:55
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/01; C04B35/45; C04B35/4504; H; H10; H10N; H10N60/00; H10N60/01; H10N60/0268; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/01; H10W72/0198; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/725; Y10S505/727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of performing multi-axis crystal alignment of ceramic cuprate superconductor material composed of a plurality of crystals having an a-b plane with high critical current carrying capability and a c-axis which is perpendicular to said a-b plane, and containing a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Europium, Erbium and Ytterbium, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of said rare earth elements to be incorporated into said ceramic cuprate superconductor material, said crystals including a magnetic moment predictably oriented along a predetermined crystal axis which lies within the a-b plane and thereby lies perpendicular to the c-axis, said magnetic moment determined by said at least one selected rare earth element; providing said superconductor material in a form in which said crystals may be re-oriented tin response to a plurality of applied forces; applying a magnetic field along a first spatial direction to orient the magnetic moments of the crystals with said predetermined crystal axis lying in said a-b plane along said first spatial direction; applying an external force which aligns the superconductor material such that the c-axis of the crystals are parallel and aligned along a second spatial direction which is perpendicular to said first spatial direction; and maintaining the alignment of the crystals along the first and second spatial directions while the crystals of said superconductor material become fixed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of performing multi-axis crystal alignment of ceramic cuprate superconductor material composed of a plurality of crystals having an a-b plane with high critical current carrying capability and a c-axis which is perpendicular to said a-b plane, and containing a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Europium, Erbium and Ytterbium, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of said rare earth elements to be incorporated into said ceramic cuprate superconductor material, said crystals including a magnetic moment predictably oriented along a predetermined crystal axis which lies within the a-b plane and thereby lies perpendicular to the c-axis, said magnetic moment determined by said at least one selected rare earth element; providing said superconductor material in a form in which said crystals may be re-oriented tin response to a plurality of applied forces; applying a magnetic field along a first spatial direction to orient the magnetic moments of the crystals with said predetermined crystal axis lying in said a-b plane along said first spatial direction; applying an external force which aligns the superconductor material such that the c-axis of the crystals are parallel and aligned along a second spatial direction which is perpendicular to said first spatial direction; and maintaining the alignment of the crystals along the first and second spatial directions while the crystals of said superconductor material become fixed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said crystals are suspended in a fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said fluid includes a deflocculant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 further including the step of facilitating evaporation of said fluid and fixation of said superconductor material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein facilitating evaporation of said fluid includes the step of heating said fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the external force includes gravity wherein said external force is applied simultaneously with said magnetic field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said gravity force is enhanced by an ultrasonic energy force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said external force includes centrifugal force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein applying said external force includes applying pressure on said superconductor material within a pressure cell die to form a superconductor structure having a predetermined shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of sintering said pressure formed superconductor structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 in which said predetermined shape includes a cylindrical pellet shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying an external force is performed prior to the step of applying a magnetic field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein applying an external force includes applying a pressure or deformation force.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-11-18 | 1996-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-19 | 1999-11-18 | 2000-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-19 | 2003-11-18 | 2004-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |