THE EFFECT OF CARBON ON THE PERITECTIC MELTING OF BI2212 AND BI2212+AG

The effect of C content on the decomposition temperature of Bi2Sr2CaCu 2O8 (Bi2212) with 0 and 10 wt.% Ag added was investigated in atmospher es of 0.01, 0.21 and 1.00 bar oxygen. The C content of the samples was controlled by a high-temperature heat treatment and subsequent exposu re to H2O saturated air. It was found that an increase in C content fr om 30 ppm to 7000 ppm suppressed the decomposition temperature of Bi22 12 by only 3 degrees C independent of Ag content. Furthermore, it was found that the previously observed suppression of the decomposition te mperature with the addition of Ag was unaffected by changes in the C c oncentration from 80 to 1500 ppm.