Transport and mechanical properties of in-situ MgB₂/Fe wires produced by initial boriding process

This study examines the impact of a pre-boron diffusion process (boriding) on the mechanical properties of unreacted Mg + 2B/Fe wires. Boriding was performed by filling iron tubes with amorphous boron powder and heat-treating them at 850 degrees C and 950 degrees C. The primary goal was to reduce the need for intermediate heat treatment during cold drawing and increase the core density of in-situ MgB2/Fe wires by forming hard iron boride phases in advance. Tensile strength, microhardness, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to assess the mechanical properties of the wires. Additionally, the structural and transport properties of reacted in-situ MgB2/Fe mono-core superconducting wires were investigated for various sintering temperatures and times. The results are interpreted in terms of the formation of iron boride (FeB/Fe2B) phases at the core/iron sheath interface region and the diffusion of boron within the superconducting core.