MELT TEXTURING AND THERMOMECHANICAL PROCESSING OF (BI,PB)-1212 SUPERCONDUCTORS

The conditions of melt texturing of bulk (Bi,Pb)-1212 were improved by adaption of (i) the chemical composition of the precursor, (ii) the t emperature/time schedule and (iii) the method of post-treatment. It is shown that especially an increase of the Ca and Pb content is suitabl e and well textured materials are obtained. In melt textured materials the best values are T-c,T-chi = 94 K and j(c,chi) = 7.8 x 10(5) A cm( -2) (5 K, 0 T). However, thermomechanical processing has failed to ind uce a pronounced grain alignment in (Bi,Pb)-1212 PIT tapes and the sup erconducting properties are still dominated by weak intergrain superco nducting couplings. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .