ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION AND MAGNETICALLY ENHANCED REACTION SINTERING (MERS) OF BISRCACUO (2212) SUPERCONDUCTOR

Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O(2212) thick films (similar to 12 mu m) were electrophore tically deposited on silver foil using ethyl alcohol as the suspending liquid. It is proposed that absorbed metal ions on the surface of the BSCCO particles impart positive charge to the particles based on cond uctivity results for the solvent, suspension and supernatant and the c hemical analysis results thereof. Liquid-phase reaction-sintering was conducted in a magnetic field (0.9 T) in an argon-oxy gen atmosphere. Rocking curves and SEM microscopy show that the orientation, not the s ize, of the microstructural grains, improve upon sintering in the magn etic field. Magnetization-hysteresis loops show sintering in a magneti c field improves the superconducting properties of the BSCCO-2212 depo sits.