AN OPTIMUM HEATING PROGRAM FOR FABRICATING MULTIFILAMENTARY BI-2223 AG TAPES/

Ag-sheathed multifilamentary Bi-2223 tapes have been fabricated by a c onventional powder-in-tube method with an optimum final heating progra m. Many heating programs were done by varying sintering time (t(s)) po st annealing time (t(p)) and cooling rate (R) from sintering temperatu re to post annealing temperature. It is found that Jc has been increas ed by a factor 1.5 to 2 at 0T over the normally processed tapes, with the Delta T=(TsTp)=10 degrees C and R=0.3 degrees C per hour condition s. XRD indicate that these tapes have a high degree of phase purity, a nd well-aligned grains. The typical value of Jc is 2.0-2.5x10(4)A/cm(2 ).