Evaluation of a strengthening and insulation system for high temperature BSCCO-2223 superconducting tape

摘要

Recent advances in BSCCO-2223 superconducting tape quality and length have led to demonstration programs for coil performance. The conductors in these coils need to be insulated without damage to the superconducting properties. A paper insulation process developed at the General Electric Company (GE) for low temperature superconducting Nb(sub 3)Sn tape has been modified to provide the same insulation system to high temperature (HTS) superconducting tapes, such as BSCCO-2223. In this paper, we report on the insulation process and its effect on the tape performance. Several long lengths of conductor have been tested, unwound, insulated and retested to examine any degradation issues. Additionally, it is known that HTS materials are inherently weak in relation to the winding and handling stresses in a manufacturing environment. A system to provide mechanical stabilization to Nb(sub 3)Sn tape through a lamination process has been successfully applied to high temperature superconductors as a method to build a strong, windable composite. The system is described and mechanical and electrical properties of the strengthened tapes are discussed.