Effects of the size of Mg powder on the formation of MgB2 and the superconducting properties

The effect of the size and shape of magnesium(Mg) powder on the formation of $MgB_2$ and the critical current density($J_{c,}$) of $MgB_2$ bulk was studied. As a precursor for the formation of $MgB_2$, Mg and $MgB_4$ powder, which was synthesized through the reaction of boron (B) with Mg powders, was used. $MgB_4$ was mixed with Mg powders of various sizes, pressed into pellets and heat-treated at $650^{\circ}C-750^{\circ}C$ in flowing argon gas. The XRD analysis of the heat-treated $MgB_2$ samples showed that the volume fraction of $MgB_2$ was the highest as 92.74 % when spherical Mg powder with an average size of $25.7{\mu}m$ was used, whereas the volume fraction was the lowest as 79.64 % when plate-like Mg powder with a size of $34.1{\mu}m$ was used. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) of $MgB_2$ was not sensitive to the characteristics of the Mg powders used. All of the prepared $MgB_2$ samples showed a high $T_c$ of 38.3 K and a small superconducting transition width of 0.2 K-0.5 K. $J_c$ (5 K and 1 T) of $MgB_2$ was the highest as $3.93{\times}10^4A/cm^2$ when spherical Mg powder with a size of $25.7{\mu}m$ was used, whereas $J_c$ was the lowest as $2.18{\times}10^4A/cm^2$when plate-like Mg powder with a size of $34.1{\mu}m$ was used. The relationship between the $J_c$ of $MgB_2$ and the characteristics of the Mg powders used was explained in terms of the volume fraction of $MgB_2$ and the apparent density of the $MgB_2$ pellets.