THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF (BI-PB)SRCACUO

The mechanical properties of (Bi, Pb)SrCaCuO (BSCCO) are examined. Par ticular attention is paid to the effects of porosity an the elastic mo dulus, the flexural strength, the hardness and the fracture toughness. A study of the effects of porosity on these properties is crucial in developing a clearer idea of the behaviour of BSCCO conductors in serv ice and is a prerequisite for modelling using, for example, finite ele ment techniques. Experiments ape carried out which show the effect of pore volume on the mechanical properties and the effect of processing on the fracture toughness. It is found that the critical defect length in BSCCO is surprisingly large and this has important implications fo r the processing of the materials and for the limits of application.