Advances in processing high-T_c superconductors for bulk applications

The recent developments in the processing of high-T_c superconductors are presented. One of the most notable is the fabrication of high-critical-current-density (J_c) polycrystalline, silver sheathed, powder in tube tapes of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (Bi2212). Since then, significant progress has been made has been made in the fabrication of long lengths of Bi2212 and Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ (Bi2223) conductors by researchers worldwide. This has resulted in the fabrication of superconducting wire several hundred meters long with J_c's in excess of 10(4) A/cm₂ at 77K. Significant advances have also been made in the fabrication of polycrystalline conductors using a related compound, YBa₂Cu₄O_6+x, which offers a slightly increased temperature regime for applications. Another major achievement is the synthesis of high- J_c, strongly-linked TiCa₂(Ba,Sr)₂Cu₃O_x thick films. Efforts are underway to enable industrial scale-up of the process used to fabricate these conductors.