The phase relations in the Bi-(Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-Sc-O system were studied near B
i2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta (Bi-2212) and (Bi,Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+delta (Bi-2223) bet
ween 850 and 930 degreesC. The introduction of Sc led to the formation of a
new compound Sr2ScBiO6, which coexisted with Bi-2212 and Bi-2223. Using cr
ystallization from a peritectic melt at different cooling rates, we obtaine
d Bi-2212 matrix composites containing finely dispersed Sr1.9Ca0.1ScBiO6 in
clusions, with T-c attaining 89 K. The T-c of the Bi-2223-Sr1.9Ca0.1ScBiO6
superconducting ceramic prepared by solid-state sintering of a Bi-(Pb)-Sr-C
a-Cu-Sc-O precursor was 108.5 K.