Bi-2212/Ag tapes and laminates: effects of bending

Superconducting Bi-2212 tapes and laminates are fabricated by a combination of dip-coating and partial melt processing. The heat treated tapes have cr itical current densities (J(c)) up to 11 kA cm(-2). We investigate the degr adation of critical current (I-c) during bending experiments for both singl e tapes and tapes with laminate structure. Although degradation of I-c is o bserved in both forms. the characteristics of the degradation differ. It is determined that laminated tapes perform better than single tapes when crit ical current is measured against bending radius, and laminated tapes tolera te a higher strain for a given reduction in critical current. It is found t hat increasing the number of Bi-2212 layers increases the total I-c of the laminated tape, but degradation of critical current is more pronounced duri ng bending because of the increased total thickness of the laminate structu re. It is also found that addition of silver to the Bi-2212 layers reduces critical current degradation during bending for both tapes and laminates.