Development of multi-filament textured-powder Bi-2212/Ag wire with enhanced local area ratio

Abstract

The performance and cost of Bi-2212/Ag wire is limited by the large area fraction of Ag matrix (∼3:1) that is required in the conventional oxide-powder-in-tube fabrication process. An alternative process is being developed in which fine-powder Bi-2212 is uniaxially compressed to form a bar tetrahedral bar with a Ag-alloy foil cladding. The fine powder naturally textures under compression (aligns the a-b planes perpendicular to the direction of compaction). Earlier work demonstrated that a symmetric billet of trapezoidal-cross-section textured-powder (TP) bars draws conformally so that the local area ratio is preserved.