α-MoC superconductor fibers

Alpha-MoC, having a face-centered-cubic crystal structure, can be prepared in fiber form by subjecting a fiber having a surface comprising dimolybdenum monocarbide to an electric voltage sufficient to raise momentarily the temperature of the fiber surface to a temperature at which the α-MoC is the most stable thermodynamically. The fiber so produced can have a carbon core, or the fiber can be entirely converted to α-MoC. This fiber is useful, for example, as a superconductor material for such applications as windings on magnets. The precursor fiber having a surface comprising dimolybdenum monocarbide can be produced by reacting a carbonfiber with hydrogen and molybdenum pentachloride in a reaction furnace. (U.S.)