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

Nowadays, ex-situ Powder-In-Tube (PIT) MgB2 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 LH2. In addition, MgB2 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 MgB2 wires at ASG superconductors is reported and perspectives and challenges for their improvements over the next years is discussed.