Frictional properties of metal-insulator interfaces

The energy by which a normal zone may be created in a cryostable composite superconductor derives almost exclusively from frictional heating, which originates from the movement of conductor against insulator. The magnitude of the frictional heat pulse depends on the mechanical properties of the winding, the frictional properties of the conductor-insulator interface, and the dynamics of the slip process. Quantification of the frictional heat pulse is presently under investigation; this paper presents preliminary results.