Joint properties of REBCO coated conductors

Abstract: We investigated joint properties of REBCO (REBa2Cu3O7− X , RE=rare earth element) coated conductors using a diffusion joint process. Two pieces of the coated conductor tapes with stabilizing silver layer on REBCO were overlapped in a face to face manner, which were pressurized and heat-treated at about 623–673K in oxygen atmosphere. The joint resistance for YBCO tape was about 6.5nΩcm2 at 77K, on the other hand, that for GdBCO tape was about 37nΩcm2 which was higher than YBCO. From the results of both cross-sectional transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analysis, diffusion of Gd-element into Ag layer was observed for the joined sample of GdBCO tape, it is suggested to be a cause of higher joint resistance for GdBCO tape. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]