APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTOR COATED METAL FIBER

摘要

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a ceramic superconductor coated metal fiber comprises a container for holding a nonaqueous solution in which particles of superconductor material are colloidally suspended to form a slurry. A voltage source is provided to influence the slurry with an electric field and a magnet device is provided to influence the slurry with a magnetic field. The magnetic field is oriented relative to the fiber to align the superconductor particles of the slurry in a desired orientation for subsequent attachment onto the surface of the fiber. The voltage source is connected to the metal fiber to electrically bias the fiber as it is drawn through the slurry. Consequently, charged superconductor particles in the slurry attach to the electrically biased fiber. Subsequently, the coated fiber is heated to sinter the aligned particles and establish a ceramic superconductor shell on the metallic fiber substrate.