I_c Response with High Magnetic Field, Low Temperature, and Uniaxial Strain in REBCO Coated Conductor Tapes

The coated conductor (CC) tapes exhibit greater potential in magnet and coil applications with high critical current density, $J-{c}$ and good mechanical properties along longitudinal direction as compared with the low temperature superconductors (LTSs). Differences in fabrication processes, architecture, and layer materials in REBCO CC tapes produce different mechanical and electromechanical behaviors under magnetic field $B$, temperature $T$, and strain $\varepsilon$. For practical applications of HTS CC tapes such as magnets, the understanding of critical current, $I-{c}$ behavior under $B$, $T$, and $\varepsilon$ is necessary. In this paper, the $I-{c}\ (B,T,\varepsilon)$ characteristics of REBCO CC tapes have been evaluated. Using a Katagiri-type tension rig, the strain effect on $I-{c}$ in CC tapes with varying magnetic field and temperature was determined. In addition, the magnetic field dependence of $I-{c}$ with temperature have also been measured. CC tapes with artificial pinning centers (APC) showed better electrical performance under magnetic field. Finally, the strain sensitivity and magnetic field dependence of $I-{c}$ decreased with decreasing temperature from 77 up to 20 K.