Melt-processing of Yb-123 tapes

The innovation of a simple, scalable process for manufacturing long-length conductors of HTS is essential to potential commercial applications such as power cables, magnets, and transformers. In this paper we demonstrate that melt processing of Yb-123 tapes made by the PIT route is an alternative to the coated conductor and Bi-2223 PIT tape fabrication techniques. Ag-clad Yb-123 tapes were fabricated by groove rolling and subsequently, melt proce ssed in different oxygen partial pressures in a zone-melting furnace with a gradient of 140 degreesC/cm. The transition temperatures measured were fou nd to be around 81 K under most processing conditions. EPMA of the tapes pr ocessed under different conditions show the 123 phase to be Pa deficient an d Cu and Yb rich. Critical current was measured at various temperatures fro m 77 K to 4.2 K. The J(c) increased with decrease in pO(2). The highest I, obtained was 52 A at 4.2 K.