This article reviews the phase diagrams, alloy with third element additions, layer growth, critical current density, and matrix materials of A15 superconductors. It describes the production methods of tape conductors (chloride deposition, and surface diffusion) and multifilamentary wires (rod process, modified jelly roll process, niobium tube process, in-situ process, powder metallurgy process, and jelly roll method). The article focuses on reaction heat treatment, which is required at the end of wire processing to convert the ductile components to the desired, but brittle, superconductor. Finally, it discusses the applications of A15 superconductors in commercial magnets, power generation, power transmission, high-energy physics, and fusion.

The discovery of the high-critical-temperature oxide superconductors has accelerated the interest for superconducting applications due to its higher-temperature operation at liquid nitrogen or above and thus reduces the refrigeration and liquid helium requirement. It also permits usage of the high-critical-temperature oxides in magnets or power applications in high-current-carrying wire or tape with acceptable mechanical capability. This article discusses the powder techniques mainly based on the production of an oxide powder precursor, which is then subjected to various processing, including powder-in-tube processing, vapor deposition processing, and melt processing. It further discusses the microstructural, anisotropy and weak link influences on these processes.

Superconductors are materials that exhibit a complete disappearance of electrical resistivity on lowering the temperature below the critical temperature. A superconducting material must exhibit perfect diamagnetism, that is, the complete exclusion of an applied magnetic field from the bulk of the superconductor. Superconducting materials that have received the most attention are niobium-titanium superconductors (the most widely used superconductor), A15 compounds (in which class the important ordered intermetallic Nb3Sn lies), ternary molybdenum chalcogenides (Chevrel phases), and high-temperature ceramic superconductors. This article provides an overview of basic principles of superconductors and the different classes of superconducting materials and their general characteristics.

Eddy-current inspection is a nondestructive evaluation method based on the principles of electromagnetic induction. Eddy-current methods are used to identify or differentiate a wide variety of physical, structural, and metallurgical conditions in electrically conductive ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic metals and metal parts. Giving a brief introduction on the uses of eddy-current inspection, this article discusses the operating principles and the principal operating variables encountered in eddy-current inspection, including coil impedance, electrical conductivity, magnetic permeability, lift-off and fill factors, edge effect, and skin effect. It further describes different aspects of eddy current testing such as the selection of inspection frequencies and the types and configurations of inspection coils. The article also deals with the eddy current instrumentation and the discontinuities that are detectable by eddy-current methods.

This article provides an overview of the classification system of coppers for conductors and for wires and cables, as well as wire rod fabrication techniques such as rolling and continuous casting. Wiredrawing and wire stranding operations, including the preparation of rod surface, drawing, production of flat rectangular wire, annealing, and coating, are discussed. The article also provides information on electrical insulation and jacketing techniques, including polymeric insulation, enamel insulation, and paper-and-oil insulation.

Magnetic field testing includes some widely used nondestructive evaluation methods to inspect magnetic materials for defects such as cracks, voids, and inclusions and to assess other material properties, such as grain size, texture, and hardness. This article discusses the principles of such defect detection, providing details on the origin, generation, and assessment of leakage field data. In addition, it discusses the metallurgical and magnetic properties of magnetic materials and the applications of magnetic field testing.

Ceramic materials serve important insulative, capacitive, conductive, resistive, sensor, electrooptic, and magnetic functions in a wide variety of electrical and electronic circuitry. This article focuses on various applications of advanced ceramics in both electric power and electronics industry, namely, dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, sensing, magnetic and superconducting devices.

This article presents an overview of the electric and magnetic parameters and discusses the significance of these parameters for electronic applications. It describes the components of analog and digital electronic circuits. The article reviews the augmenting technologies: magnetic and special technologies such as electrooptical.

Thermal spray processes involve complete or partial melting of a feedstock material in a high-temperature flame, and propelling and depositing the material as a coating on a substrate. This article describes the properties of sprayed electronic materials, including dielectrics, conductors, and resistors, and discusses their implications and associated limitations for device applications and potential remedial measures. The article presents specific examples of electrical/electronic device applications, including electromagnetic interference/radio-frequency interference shielding, planar microwave devices, waveguide devices, sensing devices, solid oxide fuel cells, heating elements, electrodes for capacitors and other electrochemical devices.

Inductors used for brazing can be machined from solid copper shapes or fabricated out of copper tubing, depending on the size and complexity of the braze joint geometry to be heated. This article provides information on inductors (coils) that are generally classified as solenoid, channel (slot), pancake, hairpin, butterfly, split-return, or internal coils. It discusses the variables pertinent to the design of inductors for brazing, soldering, or heat treating. The article presents various considerations for designing inductors for brazing of dissimilar materials that present a unique challenge in the field of induction brazing.

This article begins with a brief history of composite materials and discusses its characteristics. It presents an introduction to the constituents, product forms, and fabrication processes of composite materials. The article concludes with a discussion on the applications of organic-matrix, metal-matrix, and ceramic-matrix composites.

Ceramic-forming processes usually start with a powder which is then compacted into a porous shape, achieving maximum particle packing density with a high degree of uniformity. This article compares and contrasts several forming processes, including mechanical consolidation, dry pressing, cold isostatic pressing, slip casting, tape casting, roll compaction, extrusion, and injection molding. It describes the advantages, equipment and tooling, and material requirements of green machining, the machining of ceramics in an unfired state with the intent of producing parts as close to as possible to their final shape. The article also provides useful information on drying methods, shrinkage, and defects as well as the removal of organic processing aids such as dispersants, binders, plasticizers, and lubricants.

The design and analysis of aerospace and industrial composite components and assemblies requires a detailed knowledge of materials properties, which, in turn, depend on the manufacturing, machining, and assembly methods used. This article, through several tables and graphs, provides the mechanical properties, physical properties, and service characteristics of representative composite fiber-resin combinations, including thermoplastic matrix composites such as thermoplastic polyester resins, thermoplastic polyamide resins, and thermoplastic polysulfone resins, and thermoset matrix composites such as thermoset polyester resins, thermoset phenolic resins, thermoset epoxy resins, thermoset polyimide resins, and thermoset bismaleimide resins.

This article focuses on the general methods and approaches from the perspective of a reconstruction analyst and includes discussions relevant to materials failure analysts at the incident scene. The elements of accident reconstruction are described. These have conceptual similarity with the principles for failure analysis of material incidents that are less complex than a large-scale accident. The article provides a brief review of some general concepts on the use of modeling which can be a very powerful tool for information pertaining to the reconstruction of an accident where the model can be a physical, mathematical, or logical representation of a physical system or process.

Laser soldering uses a well-focused, highly controlled beam to deliver energy to a desired location for a precisely measured length of time. This article focuses on two types of laser soldering operations, namely, blind laser soldering and intelligent laser soldering. It discusses the function of the blind laser soldering and provides a brief description on key attributes of the blind laser soldering, including repeatability, speed, quality, safety, and flexibility. The article explores the function of the intelligent laser soldering and concludes with a section on key attributes of the intelligent laser soldering. The key attributes of the intelligent laser soldering include repeatability, speed, quality, safety, cost, and flexibility.

This article discusses the materials and properties of polymer-matrix composites to characterize each generic material according to its composition and method of manufacture. It contains a table that lists the key physical, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, and in-service conditions of concern for resin-matrix composites. Axes definitions, symbols, and special property calculations for composite material property tests are reviewed. The article provides an overview of the performance capabilities of selected polymer-matrix composite materials such as thermoplastic-matrix composites and thermoset-matrix composites. The thermoplastic-matrix composites include thermoplastic polyester resins and fiber resin composites; thermoplastic polyamide resins and fiber-resin composites; and thermoplastic polysulfone resins and fiber-resin composites.

Failure analysis is generally defined as the investigation and analysis of parts or structures that have failed or appeared to have failed to perform their intended duty. Methods of field inspection and initial examination are also critical factors for both reconstruction analysts and materials failure analysts. This article focuses on the general methods and approaches from the perspective of a reconstruction analyst. It describes the elements of accident reconstruction, which have conceptual similarity with the principles for failure analysis of material incidents that are less complex than a large-scale accident. The approach presented is that the analysis and reconstruction is based on the physical evidence. The article provides a brief review of some general concepts on the use and limitations of advanced data acquisition tools and computer modeling. Legal implications of destructive testing are discussed in detail.

Soldering represents the primary method of attaching electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, or packaged integrated circuits, to either printed wiring board whose defects is minimized by consideration of proper PWB design, device packages, and board assembly. This article discusses the categories that are most important to successful electronic soldering, namely, solders and fluxes selection, nature of base materials and finishes, solder joint design, and solderability testing.

Wrought copper and copper alloys are produced in various mill-product forms for a variety of applications due to their high electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication, and good heat-transfer properties. This article describes the manufacturing processes used to produce wrought copper and copper alloys in the form of sheet and strip products, tubular products, and wire and cable. Common processes include melting, casting, hot and cold rolling, milling or scalping, annealing, cleaning, slitting, cutting, and leveling. In addition, the article discusses stress-relaxation characteristics of copper alloys.