ABSTRACTGrain boundaries is believed to act as weak-links limiting the critical current density (Jc) of bulk high-Tcsuperconductors. The weak-link problem can be greatly reduced by elimination or minimization of the large-angle grain boundaries. It has been reported that the Jc distribution in the transverse cross-section of (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x (Bi2223) superconductor tapes follows a parabolic relationship, with the lowest currents occurring at the center of the tapes. The Jc distribution is proposed to be strongly dependent on the local crystallographic orientation distribution of the Bi2223 oxides. However, the local three dimensional crystallographic orientation distribution of Bi2223 crystals in (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+×superconductor tapes has not been experimentally determined yet. In this work, Electron Backscattered Diffraction technique was employed to map the crystallographic orientation of the crystals in Bi2223 superconductor tapes. From this, the misorientation of grain boundaries and also their distribution are obtained. Through crystallographic orientation mapping, the relationship of the crystallographic orientation distribution, the boundary misorientation distribution and the fabrication parameters may be understood. This can be used to optimize the fabrication processes thus increasing the critical current density in Bi2223 superconductor tapes.
