Renewable Revolution

Superconductor Technologies Inc. Awarded Patent for Superconducting Material Composition and Manufacturing Process

By GlobeNewswire,  May 07, 2014, 06:30:00 AM EDT 

Strengthens Patent Portfolio for Conductus Superconducting Wire Technology

AUSTIN, Texas, May 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Superconductor Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SCON) ("STI"), a world leader in the development and production of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials and associated technologies, was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,716,187, entitled "RF-Properties-Optimized Compositions of (RE) Ba2Cu3O7-8 Thin Film Superconductors" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This patent further enhances the company's intellectual property portfolio that supports the Conductus® superconducting wire program.

"Our proprietary RCE-CDR fabrication process and material composition of ReBCO provides critical cost, performance and design advantages in the production of Conductus superconducting wire," said Jeff Quiram, STI's President and CEO. "We continue to strengthen our global intellectual property portfolio to protect our growing market position."

U.S. Patent No. 8,716,187 pertains to optimized compositions of Rare Earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) thin film superconductors using the Reactive Co-Evaporation Cyclic Deposition and Reaction (RCE-CDR) process.

About STI's 2G HTS Wire RCE-CDR Manufacturing

Conductus® unique RCE-CDR deposition offers several key advantages to successfully commercialize superconducting wire for large, emerging markets. Importantly, deposition using RCE-CDR requires fewer manufacturing steps than alternate deposition methods like MOD, MOCVD and PLD. Fewer steps reduces total processing time and increases the likelihood of higher yield.  Conductus® highly controlled RCE-CDR deposition process grows crystalline structures from very low cost raw materials in their bulk, solid state.  Other YBCO growth approaches are not as controlled and usually require the use of costly chemical mixtures to deposit superconducting materials. The competing processes require more buffer layers for proper crystal growth which increases complexity and runtimes and reduces yield. Conductus® growth process is simple, repeatable and commercially proven. In addition to the lower direct cost of raw materials and the use of inexpensive substrate material , Conductus® manufacturing process will be designed for high throughput and a large superconducting growth area.  Fewer process steps allows for less production equipment per km of wire, which in turn translates into lower cap-ex, less electricity use and a smaller production footprint.

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/superconductor-technologies-inc-awarded-patent-for-superconducting-material-composition-and-20140507-00205#ixzz332RdZfbv