Progress and prospects in melt-texturing of high Tc superconductors

High critical currents are essential for major bulk applications of the high Tc superconductors. Significant advances have been made in understanding the causes of the materials problems as well as improving the current-carrying capacity through proper microstructural control. Melt-texture type processing has been most sucessful in overcoming the weak link problem and providing high transport critical currents. In this paper, recent progress and future prospects in melt-texturing of the cuprate superconductors will be discussed