Effects of intermediate deformation and thermal processing in the OPIT process upon critical current density of Ag/BiSSCO tapes
Critical current density, J/sub c/, of Ag/Bi(Pb)SCCO tapes in as-deformed and as-sintered states were studied at different stages of tape processing. Intermediate pressing and rolling result in significant I/sub c/ degradation. Non-zero I/sub c/ remains after the applications of pressing load up to 11 and 8 GPa following the third and first sintering, respectively. Under rolling conditions I/sub c/ remains non-zero up to maximum tape thickness reduction of 20%. Bending tests show that I/sub c/ reduction is the result of deformation-induced micro-crack formation which are easily healed during the first hour of the next sintering. Intermediate deformation after the first sintering cycle has been shown to accelerate significantly the 2212 to 2223 phase transformation during the first hours of the second sintering step. I/sub c/ growth during the first hour of the second sintering cycle is not connected with that phase transformation and is presumed to be the result of pinning ability and structure connectivity enhancement.
Experimental assessment of the current-limiting mechanisms in BSCCO/Ag high-temperature superconducting tapes
The current - voltage characteristics and the magnetic field dependence of the critical current of a range of mono-core BSCCO 2223 tapes are presented, illustrating the complementary use of transport and magnetization experiments in determining and analysing the current-limiting dissipation processes in these HTS conductors. Below a magnetic cross-over field the samples resemble a Josephson-linked current network, with the dominant dissipation at the weakest grain boundaries. In this regime, increasing field leads to a gradual fragmentation of the network. The network homogeneity and connectivity can be inferred from screening current length-scale measurements and comparison of transport and magnetization measurements. Above the cross-over field , flux motion within the surviving strongly linked backbone dominates the dissipation. The details of the dependences of the critical current and flux creep rate on magnetic field can be used to examine the intragranular pinning potential in the tapes. We show that, despite the wide range of transport critical-current values of the samples examined, the intragranular pinning proves to be remarkably sample independent. We conclude that while at low fields may be increased by improved processing that yields better intergrain connectivity, the high-field can be enhanced only by strengthening the pinning within the BSCCO 2223 crystallites themselves.
Effect of Cu Addition to Ag Sheath on Properties of Powder-in-Tube-Processed Bi-2223 Tapes
The effect of Cu addition to Ag sheath on superconducting and mechanical properties was investigated for Bi-2223/Ag composite tapes fabricated by the powder-in-tube process. Workability, mechanical strength and oxide/sheath interface morphology were improved considerably without deterioration of T c or J c when using Ag-2.5 and 5 wt% Cu alloys as sheath materials.