Fabrication and characterization of Ag-clad Bi-2223 tapes.

The powder-in-tube (PIT) technique was used to fabricate multifilament (Bi,Pb){sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} (Bi-2223) superconducting tapes. Transport current properties of these tapes were enhanced by increasing the packing density of the precursor powder and improving the mechanical deformation condition. A critical current (I{sub c}) of > 35 A in long lengths (> 200 m) tapes has been achieved. In measuring the dependence of critical current density on magnetic field and temperature for the optimally processed tapes, we found a J{sub c} of > 10{sup 4} A/cm{sup 2} at 20 K in magnetic fields up to 3 T and parallel to the c-axis, which is of interest for use in refrigerator-cooled magnets. I{sub c} declined exponentially when an external field was applied perpendicular to the tape surface at 77 K. Mechanical stability was tested for tapes sheathed with pure Ag and Ag-Mg alloy. Tapes made with pure Ag sheathing can withstand a tensile stress of {approx}20 MPa with no detrimental effect on I{sub c} values. Mechanical performance was improved by using Ag-Mg alloy sheathing: values of transport critical current began to decrease at the tensile stress of {approx} 100 MPa. Transport current measurements on tapes wound on a mandrel of 3.81 cm (1.5 in.) diameter at 30{degree} to the longitudinal axis, showed a reduction of {approx} 10% in I{sub c} values for pure Ag-sheathed tapes and 5% reduction in I{sub c} values for Ag-Mg sheathed tapes, compared with the I{sub c} values of as-coiled tapes