Microstructure and Transport Properties of Bi-2212 Prepared by CO2 Laser Line Scanning

A novel Laser Line Scanning method has been applied to process rectangular cross-section Bi-2212 monoliths containing 2.9 % Ag using a CO2 Laser. Although previous work has suggested the use of nIR lasers (a parts per thousand 0.8-1.1 mu m) for melt-processing metal oxide superconductors, the results obtained here demonstrate that mid-IR radiation from a CO2 laser (10.6 mu m) may be just as convenient for such a purpose while it enables processing large surface areas. The samples described here were processed at traverse rates ranging between 15 and 60 mm/h, exhibited a complex textured microstructure and yielded highest I (c) values of 71 A at 77 K.