Fujikura Marks World Record Performance with 2G HTS Wire

Fujikura announced on Wednesday the firm succeeded in the development of 2nd-generation high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire with more than 500-meter length and 300-ampere critical current. Along Japanese governmental project, the development of 2G HTS wire has targeted 500-meter length and 300-ampere critical current for the actual utilization in various applications. Fujikura achieved the world record performance at 176,023 ampere meters with its new HTS wire.Fujikura manufactured 2G HTS wire with 503.5 meters length and 349.6 amperes critical current. The performance exceeded the previous world record at 158,950 ampere meters announced by Superpower of USA in March 2008.2G HTS wire is manufactured with a metal tape on which an intermediate layer of gadolinium-zirconium oxide and a superconductive layer of yttrium series oxide are formed.For the new HTS wire, Fujikura firstly polished and flattened a metal tape to minimize flaws in an intermediate layer and a superconductive layer. Secondly the firm newly adopted gadolinium-barium-copper oxide to a superconductive layer, which shows higher performance among yttrium series oxide materials. The firm previously used yttrium-bismuth-copper oxide. Additionally the firm improved the manufacturing method such as a temperature control.Fujikura achieved the development along Japanese governmental project led by New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). As a next step, Fujikura will try to realize large-lot and low-cost production of 2G HTS wire and the actual utilization in electrical and industrial applications.