Recent Development and Status of Ex-Situ PIT MgB2 Wires at ASG Superconductors

Nowadays, ex-situ Powder-In-Tube (PIT) MgB
₂
multifilamentary wires are commercially available in long length and can reach self-field critical current (I
_c
) values above 1000 A at 20 K; moreover, thanks to its high critical temperature T
_c
(38 K) such wires are good candidates for cryogen-free applications and devices required for the future. In the past, MRI system has already profited from these advantages and turned out to a series production of open MRI systems. Recently, this type of conductor has been chosen in the European project SCARLET for demonstrating the feasibility of a 500 MW DC monopolar cable system transferring 20 kA at 25 kV and, at the same time, distributes LH
₂
. In addition, MgB
₂
is the most lightweight superconductor among the realm of practical superconductors, thus to be also suitable for aircraft components. In this work, the current state-of-the-art of the commercial ex-situ PIT MgB
₂
wires at ASG superconductors is reported and perspectives and challenges for their improvements over the next years is discussed.