Superconductor care and storage

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bigmack
Posts: 816
Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
Job Title: Lab Technician
School: FCAC
State/Location: QLD

Superconductor care and storage

Post by bigmack »

Hi Lovelys

I'm wondering how you all care for and store your superconductors ?

This is the kit we have . The instructions say to thoroughly dry the Superconductor Disc immediately after use when it has warmed to handling temp ( remember its been in Liquid Nitrogen ) , then store it in its sealed bag . Don't store next to Ice or water .
Superconductivity Kit.jpg
So this we have been doing ......but the next year when we got out the Superconductor , it had crumbed into tiny crumbs :cry2:

So we ordered another one , this time we dried it in paper towel ASAP and placed it in a desiccator for a day before packing away in its sealed bag with a silica gel sachet in it .

A year later , get it out and its not crumbs but severely cracked . Incidentally the Prac was run and it still worked fine .

So this time I have placed it in the incubator on low to make damn sure its dry before storing . Hopefully it will still be the same next year .....if not then its another $80 odd for a new one . By the time you get Liquid nitrogen and a superconductor every second year this is an expensive prac to run .
Cracked and Crumbled Super conductor.jpg
Cracked Super conductor.jpg
So how do you do it ? .Am I the only one that kills these things ? Is it our High humidity ?
Thoughts
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melsid
Posts: 355
Joined: 07 Apr 2013, 07:11
Job Title: Lab Rat
School: PHS
State/Location: NSW

Re: Superconductor care and storage

Post by melsid »

I'd try storing it with a sachet of silica gel or something similar. Or possibly store it in a dessicator.

Wish me luck with mine! Luckily Tamworth is relatively dry most of the time.
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