Progress in MgB2 Wires Manufacturing at ASG Superconductors and Perspective for Applications

The MgB₂ wire manufacturing process at ASG Superconductors has reached a high level of maturity in terms of reproducibility and homogeneity of long length superconducting wires and tapes, available with different size and layout configuration in single unit length up to 6–7 km. Due to the good mechanical properties, tuned by the selection of the materials used as sheaths, and by the final heat treatment parameters, the reacted wires are well suitable for magnet winding and cable manufacturing using industrial machinery. Thanks to these characteristics, MgB₂ technology covers a wide range of potential applications: magnets for MRI systems, accelerators and detectors, as well as cable for transmission-distribution network and bus-bars for industrial or fusion applications. Furthermore, the affordable cost and the possibility to use liquid hydrogen as coolant, make MgB₂ wires, the most suitable solution to implement superconductivity as a mean to address low carbon and energy transition challenges. In this report, the status of the MgB₂ wires manufacturing will be presented, giving an overview of the available wire characteristics and their current and future implementation in magnet and cable applications.