Microstructures and Jc-B Characteristics of Ag-Sheathed Bi-Based Superconducting Wires

Abstract
We prepared silver-sheathed BiPbSrCaCuO wires by the powder-in-tube method. Maximum critical current densities at 77.3 K were 5.4×104 A·cm-2 in a zero magnetic field, 4.2×104 A·cm-2 at 0.1 T and 1.2×104 A·cm-2 at 1 T. At 77.3 K, as the J c improves, the history effects decrease. J c and J c-B enhancements are due to the decrease and dispersion of nonsuperconducting phases, and to grain boundary improvements.