Cryogenic milling for the fabrication of high J_c MgB₂ bulk superconductors

Cryogenic milling which is a combined process of low-temperature treatment and mechanical milling was applied to fabricate high critical current density $(J_c)MgB_2$ bulk superconductors. Liquid nitrogen was used as a coolant, and no solvent or lubricant was used. Spherical Mg ($6-12{\mu}m$, 99.9 % purity) and plate-like B powder (${\sim}1{\mu}m$, 97 % purity) were milled simultaneously for various time periods (0, 2, 4, 6 h) at a rotating speed of 500 rpm using $ZrO_2$ balls. The (Mg+2B) powders milled were pressed into pellets and heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in flowing argon. The use of cryomilled powders as raw materials promoted the formation reaction of superconducting $MgB_2$, reduced the grain size of $MgB_2$, and suppressed the formation of impurity MgO. The superconducting critical temperature ($T_c$) of $MgB_2$ was not influenced as the milling time (t) increased up to 6 h. Meanwhile, the critical current density ($J_c$) of $MgB_2$ increased significantly when t increased to 4 h. When t increased further to 6 h, however, $J_c$ decreased. The $J_c$ enhancement of $MgB_2$ by cryogenic milling is attributed to the formation of the fine grain $MgB_2$ and a suppression of the MgO formation.