Crystallographically oriented superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 by shock compaction of prealigned powder

Abstract
Highly textured specimens of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 were obtained by shock compaction of powder at 30–140 kbar and by sintering. The compacts were characterized by x‐ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistance, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy data. Preferential orientation with the ab plane in the plane of the disk‐shaped compacts was achieved by tapping platelet‐shaped powder with a controlled size distribution, followed by shock compaction or by sintering. The shocked compacts were annealed to induce metallic resistance while maintaining preferential crystallographic orientation. The electrical and magnetic data demonstrate that shock compaction heterogeneously heats and bonds grain boundaries.