Controlled decomposition and reformation of the 2223 phase in Ag-clad (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox tapes and its influence on the microstructure and critical current density

The decomposition of almost fully reacted (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (BSCCO-2223) tapes caused by heating in 1 atm of pure O2 at 825 °C has been studied. It was found that partially decomposing 2223 tapes to a mixture of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Oy, (Ca, Sr)2PbO4, and other secondary phases reduced the critical current density (77 K, 0 T) from ∼20 kA/cm2 to nearly zero. Reheating the tapes in 7.5% O2 restored the 2223 phase and, while there was some degradation of the 2223 grain alignment due to residual secondary phase growth, the critical current density was also restored to nearly its original value. We hypothesize that such a decomposition/reformation process can be useful in increasing the connectivity and relative density of polycrystalline 2223, by encouraging the formation of a liquid phase which heals residual cracks in the BSCCO core.