Manufacture of (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10-based tapes with a composite sheath

(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10-based single-filament tapes were prepared using a pure Ag protective sheath in contact with the ceramic core and an external sheath consisting of Ni. The influence of the composite sheath geometry on the (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 phase formation kinetics was studied by in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction in a 8.5% O2 - 91.5% N2 gas mixture and was found to depend strongly on the sheath architecture as a consequence of differences in the oxygen supply between the ceramic core and the outer atmosphere. Owing to the efficient protection of the pure Ag layer against Ni diffusion, the critical temperature of the (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 phase is unaffected. Critical current densities as high as 35 kA/cm2 (77K, self field) were obtained in a single heat treatment when a slow cooling rate was used. The ceramic density was significantly improved in comparison with that of tapes prepared using only pure Ag as sheath material and heat treated once. This effect can be attributed to the higher mechanical strength of the composite sheath at elevated temperatures, which prevents the development of an otherwise significant porosity during the growth of the superconducting crystallites