Structure and current transport mechanisms in Bi(2223)/Ag tapes

Abstract The effects of 2223 phase content, grains morphology, texture and core density in Ag sheathed tapes were studied and related to the transport currents. Four Bi(2223)/Ag tapes differing in thermomechanical treatment have been analyzed structurally (XRD, EDX, SEM and TEM), mechanically (microhardness) and electrically (transport I c measurement in self field, I c in external magnetic field up to 1.2 T, and I c field angular dependence, all at 77 K). The obtained structural results do not always give a clear relation to transport current because of a difference between the volume (layer) of structural analysis and the real current path.