Processing of (bi,pb)scco superconductor in wires and tapes

摘要

A process of the production and processing of high quality, high Tc (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors, starting with fabrication of a precursor article including selected intermediate phases with desired chemical and structural properties. The precursor fabrication includes introducing the reacted mixture having a dominant amount of the tetragonal BSCCO (Bismuth-Strontium-Calcium-Copper-Oxide) phase into a metal sheath, and sealing the reacted mixture within the sheath, heating the mixture at a second selected processing temperature in an inert atmosphere with a second selected oxygen partial pressure for a second selected time period, the second processing temperature and the second oxygen partial pressure being co-operatively selected to form a dominant amount of an orthorhombic BSCCO phase in the reacted mixture. The sealed sheath is deformed to form an elongated precursor article of a desired texture and thereafter heated at a third selected processing temperature in an inert atmosphere with a third selected oxygen partial pressure for a third selected time period. The third processing temperature and third oxygen partial pressure are co-operatively selected to convert at least a portion of the orthorhombic BSCCO phase to the final superconducting BSCCO material.