CHARACTERIZATION OF AG-SHEATHED (BI,PB)2SR2CA2CU3O10-X MULTIFILAMENTARY TAPES

Ag-sheathed (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10-x (BPSCCO) tapes have been fabricated through a thermomechanical deformation process. Critical current density and a.c. susceptibility measurements, SEM, XRD and image analysis have been carried out for the characterization of the samples. A critical current density of 11 600 A CM-2 at 77 K and zero field has been achieved with good reproducibility. The J(c)-H characteristics of the samples are discussed in relation to grain alignment, mass density and phase assemblage. It is found that the mass densities of the filaments in the multifilamentary tapes vary depending on their positions along the cross-section owing to an inhomogeneous distribution of the shear-stress during the deformation process. Based on the experimental results and a theoretical analysis, I(c)(H perpendicular-to C)/I(c) (H parallel-to C) is suggested as a criterion to evaluate the degree of texture of the multifilamentary tapes.