Continuous Multistrand Assembly Techniques For Ag Clad Superconducting Wire

A method to continuously combine and deform silver, er has been developed. This technique has been used to fabricate multifilament superconducting tapes consisting of Bi-2223, high temperature superconducting precursors. Results show that silver has the unique ability to be bonded together in a continuous strand process without requiring a protective atmosphere, The approach uses a continuous process to combine relatively fine wires that are aligned in the desired configuration, held in intimate contact and heat-treated to promote metallurgical bonding. Silver grain growth across strand interfaces has been documented in processed tapes and lengths approaching 100 meters have been fabricated. Engineering critical current densities (J(e),) as high as 19,000 amps/cm(2) (77K, self-field, 1 mu V/cm) have been recorded in short samples.