1. Novel Processing of SuperconductorsOswald N. C. Uwakweh1, Eric E. Hellstrom2, Richard Pérez Moyet31University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Dept. of Eng. Sci. & Materials2 University of Wisconsin-Madison Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Engineering, 3 UPRM Physics Dept. To realize the potential of MgB2 based superconductors a multi-prong approach is needed to achieve critical properties enhancements via processing. To this end, high energy ball milling was used to obtain nanosized particles, site specific doping, and creation of disorders necessary for properties improvement while avoiding the formation of secondary phases such as types MgO and MgB4 ones due to exposure to atmospheric oxygen and humidity. Partnership for Research and Education on Functional and Nanostructured MaterialsOscar M. Suarez, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez,DMR 0351449 We demonstrated that this can be achieved by employing tightly controlled processing atmospheres, and, showed that failure to quantify the effects of exposure to atmospheric oxygen can explain the disparities in properties reported for MgB2. Based on our findings, the use of ball milling for achieving property enhancements via doping would prove to be a significant contribution to the development of MgB2 based superconductors. Scanning Electron Microscope image of MgB2 particles showing particle size dependence with ball milling In 2006 the editorial board of the Superconductor Science and Technology journal selected a special collection of articles published in that journal to highlight the quality of their research. One of the 32 selected articles was “Atmospheric conditions and their effect on ball-milled magnesium diboride,” authored by B. J. Senkowicz, R. Pérez Moyet, R. J. Mungall, J. Hedstrom, O. N. C. Uwakweh, E. E. Hellstrom and D. C. Larbalestier, Supercond. Sci. Technol. 19 [11], November 2006, pp. 1173-1177.