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. 2025 May 19;18(10):2367.
doi: 10.3390/ma18102367.

Processing of Bulk MgB2 Superconductors by Coupling Laser Powder Bed Fusion and Spark Plasma Sintering Techniques

Anastasia Sklyarova  1 , Lionel Presmanes  1 , Vincent Baylac  1 , Geoffroy Chevallier  1 , Claude Estournès  1 , Benjamin Duployer  1 , Jacques Noudem  2 , Pierre Bernstein  2 , Philippe Tailhades  1 , Yohann Thimont  1
Affiliations

Processing of Bulk MgB2 Superconductors by Coupling Laser Powder Bed Fusion and Spark Plasma Sintering Techniques

Anastasia Sklyarova et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

This article demonstrates the concept proof to manufacture parts of MgB2 by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) coupled to Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) by an optimization of the L-PBF and SPS conditions to limit the phase degradation and complete the sintering. Optimal L-PBF parameters were identified in order to obtain the material preforms with a minimal degradation of the MgB2 phase, and then these preforms were sintered by SPS using an inert powder as matrix with a purpose to receive a mechanically more reliable product. Sintered samples show superconductivity state inherent for the raw material and demonstrate superconducting transition around 38 K according to the magnetic moment measurements.

Keywords: MgB2; additive manufacturing; laser powder bed fusion; spark plasma sintering; superconductors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MgB2 phase weight fraction versus Ecd, in inset: XRD patterns as example of phase degradation evolution with increasing Ecd. A and B correspond to two samples made with two different Ecd. The dashed curve is a guide line for the eyes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pictures of the fabricated MgB2 parts: (a) Picture of the cuboid preform; (b) Example of preform with a complex shape elaborated in similar conditions; (c–g) Pictures of the cuboid-shaped samples after L-PBF manufactured at the different values of Ecd: (c) 59 mJ/μm2; (d) 89 mJ/μm2; (e) 111 mJ/μm2; (f) 212 mJ/μm2; (g) 576 mJ/μm2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
XRD patterns of the preform with 92% of MgB2 (a) and the final part (the same preform) obtained after SPS (c) (sample 1), and XRD patterns for comparative sample with 95% of MgB2 after SLS (b) and SPS (d) (sample 2). The red lines correspond to the Rietveld refinement patterns, the blue lines are the difference between the Rietveld and the experimental patterns.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) SEM of the powder; (b) Top view of the sintered cuboid preform; (c) SEM micrograph of its surface; (d) SEM micrograph of the sample at higher magnification (sample 1).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Magnetic moment versus temperature curves of the raw MgB2 powder (opened and closed diamond marks) and the sintered cuboid part after the final SPS step marked as sample 1 on the picture (opened and closed circles), and the comparative sample 2 after the final SPS step (opened and closed squares). FC-mode measurements have been performed under a 20 Oe applied magnetic field.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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