Patent ID: 7337527

Claim:
A method of manufacturing superconducting wires ( 10 ) based on MgB 2 , including the steps of: production of a cylindrical wire ( 20 ) of predefined transverse dimensions, comprising an MgB 2 core ( 11 ) surrounded by a metal covering ( 12 ), in which the core ( 11 ) has substantially a lattice structure formed by grains of the compound MgB 2 , the wire ( 20 ) being obtainable by drawing of a metal tube ( 14 ) into which are introduced beforehand the compound MgB 2 or its elemental precursors, subsequently subjected to reaction, and rolling of the wire ( 20 ) to produce a conductor ( 10 ) in tape form, at the same time producing structural defects in the lattice of MgB 2 grains, characterized in that it comprises a step of heat treatment of the conductor ( 10 ) in tape form by heating to a temperature of between 800° C. and 870° C. so as to increase the connection between the MgB 2 grains whilst substantially maintaining the structural defects produced in the rolling step, wherein a further step of heat treatment of the cylindrical wire ( 20 ) by heating to a temperature of between 800° C. and 870° C. precedes said rolling step; and wherein the heat treatment step is performed in several stages in the course of the rolling step.