Fabrication and characterizations of the BSCCO-2212/$SrSO_4$ bulk superconductors

BSCCO-2212/$SrSO_4$ 벌크 초전도체의 제작 및 특성평가

We fabricated Bi-2212/$SrSO_4$ bulk superconductors by the casting process and evaluated the effects of the powder mixing method and annealing temperature on the texture, microstructure, and critical current. In the process, the Bi-2212 powders were mixed with $SrSO_4$ by hand-mixing(HM) and planetary ball milling(PBM) method and then the powder mixtures were melted at $1100^{\circ}C{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$, solidified, and annealed. We observed that the rod made by the PBM had a more homogeneous microstructure and smaller $SrSO_4$ and second phases than that of the rod made by the HM, resulting in increased $I_c$. The $I_c$ of the rod also depended on the annealing temperature and the highest $I_c$ was obtained to be 200 A when prepared by HM at $1200^{\circ}C$ and annealed at $810^{\circ}C$ which is probably due to the moderate density and 2212 texture and the smaller and less second phase compared to that at higher temperature. The possible causes of the variations of $I_c$ with the powder mixing method and annealing temperature were related to the microstructural evolution based on the SEM, EPMA, and DTA analyses.