Superior transport Jc obtained in in-situ MgB2 wires by tailoring the starting materials and using a combined cold high pressure densification and hot isostatic pressure treatment

The best J(c) performance (8 x 10(4) A.cm(-2) at 10 T, 4.2 K) has been obtained in our work among all the in-situ powder -in-tube (PIT) MgB2 wires reported so far by tailoring their boron and magnesium precursors, as well as employing appropriate high pressure during the manufacturing process. Moreover, the second stage densification using the special HIP has been applied to commercial long-length wire. Our work suggests that the economical starting precursors and the combination of cold and hot densification techniques could represent a promising alternative for industrial and economical production of practical MgB2 wires with excellent J(c). (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.