Microstructure, interfaces and magnetic behaviour of thick Ag/BSCCO composite fibres

Abstract

Thick Ag/ (Bi, Pb)SrCaCuO (BSCCO) composite fibres grown by the laser floating zone method have been studied using electron microscopy techniques (scanning, transmission and energy dispersive spectroscopy). A comparison of the microstructure in as-grown and annealed and fibres, considering the presence of intergrowth defects in the BSCCO grains, has been performed and related with corresponding changes in the magnetic AC susceptibility. Fibre solidification characteristics and the resulting Ag/BSCCO interface types are described and discussed. The occurrence of eutectic-like composite aligned growth is also established.