Sumitomo Electric's Bismuth-based High-Temperature Superconducting Wire Wins the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun's 2004 Best 10 New Products Prize

Author: admin / 2005-03-09

The bismuth-based high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire developed by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. has won the Masuda Award of the 47th Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun's Best 10 New Products Prize.

The Best 10 New Products Prize is given by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (the Business & Technology Daily News), a Japanese daily newspaper specialized in industrial news, to ten best new products developed and commercialized by Japanese companies in the year. The Masuda Award, which Sumitomo Electric's bismuth-based HTS wire has won, is the Grand Prix awarded to the most outstanding new product. This is the tenth time that Sumitomo Electric has won the Best 10 New Products Prize, and the first time in winning the Masuda Award. 

Sumitomo Electric's bismuth-based HTS wire is manufactured using a proprietarily developed process named "Controlled Over Pressure (CT-OP)". By applying the CT-OP process during the heat treatment step, which is the last important step in determining the superconducting characteristics of wires, the density of the bismuth-based superconducting material is improved to 100% from conventional 85%. As a result, the yield rate for long length wires is increased to 90% from conventional 20%, and it has become possible to commercially fabricate long-length HTS wires of more than 1000 meters length and no defect.

Utilizing its knowledge and experience on materials and systems, Sumitomo Electric will continue being a leader in the superconducting technology.


From：http://www.sei.co.jp