A 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to researchers studying the use of silver as a conductor and wiring material, raising the possibility that construction and demolition contractors will have silver wiring on their job sites in the future and possibly spurring a new market for silver.
Pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids resulted in the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded last week to Vitaly L. Ginzburg, Alexei A. Abrikosov, and Anthony Leggett, researchers at AT&T Bell Laboratories, according to a news release from the Silver Institute, Washington.
“Through their efforts, tremendous strides are being made in understanding these processes, leading to the development of new superconducting materials and technologies that have great promise to benefit the entire world,” remarks U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham.
The silver industry has an interest in superconductivity since silver is a key component of superconductive wire, which operates with no electrical resistance at practical operating temperatures and provides better performance at significantly reduced weight and size to cables, motors, generators and transformers, according to the Silver Institute.
About 16 years ago, researchers achieved a breakthrough when several oxides were combined and proved to be superconductive at relatively low temperatures. However, the initial materials were brittle and unworkable. This was resolved when a solution was developed at the AT&T Bell Laboratories, which incorporated silver into the mix to combat the earlier frustrations.
Placing these oxides into practical use generated worldwide research, and already over 700 patents have been issued. The Silver Institute notes that patents held by the American Superconductor Corporation (AMC), Westborough, Mass., (www.amsuper.com), have resulted in practical silver-jacketed superconducting oxide wires that carry more than 140 times the electric load of copper wire with less than 1 percent of the weight.
With over a decade of development behind it, AMC recently shipped 18 miles of silver- jacketed, high-temperature superconductor (HTS) wire to China for new electric-power projects. According to Greg Yurek, CEO of American Superconductor, “We have sold samples of our wire into China and have been working with a number of companies and government agencies to meet this dynamic new Chinese industry. We believe this initial order represents just the beginning of what is ultimately enormous growth potential for all our products in China.” Yurek adds, “In every case we know about, a noble metal, primarily silver, is put on top of high-temperature superconducting wires.”Latest from Recycling Today
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