Effects of axial tensile and bending strains on the critical current of Bi-2223 superconducting tapes

The effects of axial tensile and bending strains on the critical current of Ag and AgMn/Bi-based tapes produced by the powder-in-tube method have been studied at 77 K. The observed degradation of critical current due to tensi le strain effects is irreversible. AgMn sheath and multifilament are benefi cial to improve the tensile and bending strain tolerance of Bi-2223 superco nducting tapes, in the case of Ag/Bi-based tapes, the epsilon(irr) approxim ate to 0.15%, while that of AgMn/Bi-based tapes is 0.34%. The larger tensil e and bending strain tolerance of AgMn/Bi-2223 superconducting tape may res ult from better mechanical properties. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scien ce B.V.