Densification of bii 8(pb)o35sri9ca2icu3 0a And texture development through sinter-forging

A technique known as sinter-forging has been used to achieve dense Bi_1.8(Pb)_0.35Sr_1.9Ca_2.1Cu₃O_x high-T_c superconducting material with oriented grains. The relationship between the final microstructure and processing conditions was elucidated. Material density and texture increases with the hot-forging pressure and temperature. Grains are elongated with the c-axis oriented approximately parallel to the direction of applied stress. The degree of grain orientation has been quantified using X-ray diffraction and is reported in terms of Lotgering's orientation factors. A maximum orientation factor of 38% was found for processing at 830°C and 4 MPa in air. The influence of the sintering temperature and atmosphere on the electrical properties has been investigated. After processing at 810°C and 4 MPa, the sinter-forged materials exhibit superconductivity, according to resistivity measurements, with a T_c (R=0) of 104 K. The critical current density at 77 K increases with increasing bulk density.