The effect of sintering temperature on the intergranular properties and weak link behavior of Bi2223 superconductors

Abstract

A systematic study of the intergranular properties of (Bi,Pb)2 Sr2 Ca2 Cu3 Oy (Bi2223) polycrystalline samples has been done using the electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility techniques. In this study, we have prepared a series of Bi2223 samples with different sintering temperatures. The XRD results show that by increasing the sintering temperature up to 865° c , the Bi2212 phase fraction decreases. It was found that the Bi2212 phase on the grain boundaries is likely to play the role of the weak links and consequently reduces the intergranular critical current densities.

Keywords

• high- Tc superconductors
• sintering temperature
• AC susceptibility
• Bi2212 phase
• intergranular properties