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Name: A.B.
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999
Question:
What are the newest polymers being researched in the field of superconductivity? How good is their ductility? What is their Tc? What are the advantages and disadvanteages of researching this material for superconductivity rather than the ceramic superconductors such as the YBCO?


Replies:
Polymers have very nice physical properties; a huge range of hardnesses, malleabilities, and ductilities can be achieved by blending polymers together. The ceramic superconductors are brittle and crumbly and therefore it's troublesome to make wires, bricks, etc. out of them. So this is one reason why people are looking at superconducting polymers. Also, some polymers are photosensitive and one could in principle image making superconducting photonic switches out of polymers...etc., etc.

It's been a few years since I looked into superconducting polymers so I hesitate to tell you what the "current" state of the art is...better hit the library!

-topper


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