Phase formation in Ag-sheathed (Bi,Pb)/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 10/ tapes using a one- and two-powder process with and without Ag additions

The formation of (Bi,Pb)/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 10/ ((Bi,Pb)2223) in Ag-sheathed tapes was compared for two different powder processing techniques. In one technique, a phase assemblage of (Bi,Pb)/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8/ ((Bi,Pb)2212), (Ca,Sr)/sub 2/CuO/sub 3/, and CuO was produced in a single powder processed by Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis (ASP). This is called a 1-powder process. In the other technique, the same phase assemblage was produced by mixing a precursor powder composed of (Bi,Pb)2212 with a second precursor powder composed of Ca/sub 2/CuO/sub 3/ and CuO. (Both of the precursor powders were also processed by ASP.) This is called a 2-powder process. A set of tapes were made by the 1-powder process that contained 1, 5, and 10 wt.% Ag. The tape with 1 wt.% Ag yielded a microstructure of nearly phase pure (Bi,Pb)2223.<>