EFFECTS OF SINTERING TEMPERATURE ON THE SUPERCONDUCTING AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF BI1.7PB0.4SR1.6CA2.4CU3.6OY AG2O COMPOSITES

The effects of sintering temperature on the superconducting and micros tructure properties of Bi1.7Pb0.4Sr1.6Ca2.4Cu3.6Oy (BPSCCO)/Ag2O (0-50 wt%) superconductors were investigated. Based on the differential the rmal analysis data, it was found that the addition of Ag2O to the BPSC CO system lowered the partial melting temperature (peritectic point), thereby promoting extra liquid formation in this system and affecting the stability of 2223 high-T(c) phase of these composites. For example , the T(c) (zero) of the BPSCCO/Ag2O (10 wt%) composite which was sint ered at 843-degrees-C in air was depressed by as much as 52 K. However , the addition of Ag2O (10-50 wt%) in the BPSCCO samples resulted in n o significant effect on T(c) when samples were treated under a lower s intering temperature (827-degrees-C) in air. The correlations of super conducting properties with microstructures of these materials are disc ussed.