FABRICATION OF (BI,PB)(2)SR2CA2CU3O10 AG-SHEATHED CONDUCTORS BY TAPE CASTING

Tape casting and lamination to form Ag-sheathed (Bi,Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconductors is investigated as an alternate manufacturing process . Debindering the tape is a critical step which requires inhibiting vo latile metal vaporization but allows one to control the residual carbo n concentration. Samples may be sealed by cold pressing the oxide betw een Ag foils, and the carbon concentration may be adjusted from 1600 t o 350 ppm by applying an appropriate debindering schedule. The uniaxia l pressing pressure is optimized to give the highest possible oxide co re density of 79% without causing cracks or delamination of the compos ite. The effects of carbon concentration and sintering time and temper ature on J(c) are elucidated for sealed and unsealed samples. Maximum J(c) values over 10 kA/cm(2) are found for sealed, low-carbon samples, which is comparable to other thick film forming methods.