Critical issues in the OPIT processing of high-Jc BSCCO superconductors

The oxide-powder-in-tube (OPIT) method has produced superconducting wires or tapes that exhibit high critical current densities in high magnetic fields when the superconducting oxide is the two-layer compound Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Oy or the three-layer compound Bi2−xPbxSr2Ca2Cu3Oy. For good properties to be obtained, however, numerous critical processing issues must be addressed.