High current variable temperature electrical characterization system for superconducting wires and tapes with continuous sample rotation in a split coil magnet.

A new state-of-the-art electrical transport measurement system was developed for the characterization of industrially produced coated conductors (CCs). The current leads are rated to a conduct current of up to 1000 A, which opens up the possibility of measuring the critical current Ic of tapes at a wide range of temperatures. The setup operates in a He-gas flow cryostat that provides stable temperatures between 1.8 and 200 K. The setup is equipped with a split-coil magnet that can apply fields of up to 6 T. A continuous rotation of the sample with respect to the magnetic field with an angular resolution of 0.5° enables characterization of anisotropic Ic of different tapes. In the measured voltage-current curves, weak sample heating mostly occurs from the dissipation in the tape during the Ic transition. It is demonstrated that the system can provide reliable data on the properties of CCs at temperatures lower than 77 K for a magnet design and other applications. The results allow the study of vortex pinning for further prospects of engineering the microstructure of the superconducting layer as well as to assess the performance of various tapes with different architectures to achieve optimum performance at different operating temperatures and magnetic fields.

Orientation relationship of eutectoid FeAl and FeAl2.

Fe-Al alloys in the aluminium range of 55-65 at.% exhibit a lamellar microstructure of B2-ordered FeAl and triclinic FeAl2, which is caused by a eutectoid decomposition of the high-temperature Fe5Al8 phase, the so-called ∊ phase. The orientation relationship of FeAl and FeAl2 has previously been studied by Bastin et al. [J. Cryst. Growth (1978 ▸), 43, 745] and Hirata et al. [Philos. Mag. Lett. (2008 ▸), 88, 491]. Since both results are based on different crystallographic data regarding FeAl2, the data are re-evaluated with respect to a recent re-determination of the FeAl2 phase provided by Chumak et al. [Acta Cryst. (2010 ▸), C66, i87]. It is found that both orientation relationships match subsequent to a rotation operation of 180° about a 〈112〉 crystallographic axis of FeAl or by applying the inversion symmetry of the FeAl2 crystal structure as suggested by the Chumak data set. Experimental evidence for the validity of the previously determined orientation relationships was found in as-cast fully lamellar material (random texture) as well as directionally solidified material (∼〈110〉FeAl || solidification direction) by means of orientation imaging microscopy and global texture measurements. In addition, a preferential interface between FeAl and FeAl2 was identified by means of trace analyses using cross sectioning with a focused ion beam. On the basis of these habit planes the orientation relationship between the two phases can be described by ([Formula: see text]01)FeAl || (114)[Formula: see text] and [111]FeAl || [1[Formula: see text]0][Formula: see text]. There is no evidence for twinning within FeAl lamellae or alternating orientations of FeAl lamellae. Based on the determined orientation and interface data, an atomistic model of the structure relationship of Fe5Al8, FeAl and FeAl2 in the vicinity of the eutectoid decomposition is derived. This model is analysed with respect to the strain which has to be accommodated at the interface of FeAl and FeAl2.