Effect of sintering periods on the pinning force, activation energy and microstructure of high- superconducting Bi - (Pb) - Sr - Ca - Cu - O tapes

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Abstract
Short and long periods of sintering of short single-core tapes have been studied. Comparisons are made between three batches of these tapes with the same thermomechanical deformation and sintering conditions but with the starting precursor powders having undergone different processing. It is found that the volume density of the macroscopic pinning force in fields up to 1 T is greater for a particular sintering period. Resistivity measurements further show that the pinning activation energy also reaches a higher value for the same chosen sintering period. SEM images of the surfaces indicate that better core morphology and density can be achieved with this particular sintering period. Prolonged sintering leads to greater porosity while short-duration sintering inhibits grain growth and thus is of no assistance in the healing of cracks induced during the intermediate deformation between sintering periods.