The current investigation studies the phase transformation process of
Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) tapes processed by cryogenic, 77 K and room temperature
pressing. The work specifically examined the effect of deformation on the
phase content and transformation kinetics of the BSCCO tapes. The results
showed that cryogenic pressing produced tapes with a higher Bi2223 phase content
at lower deformation ratios than room temperature pressed tapes. However, the
phase transformation profiles for both tapes were similar. A minimum phase
content was observed in the profiles that was characteristic to each process.
The minimum occurred between 30-40% deformation for the cryogenically pressed
tapes and between 50-60% for the room temperature pressed tapes. The peculiar
profiles were suggested to be the result of two competing mechanisms that
reduced the free energy of the systems. It was suggested that these two
mechanisms were either Bi2212 re-crystallization or Bi2223 phase formation.
The differences observed between the two processes were attributed to the
amount and way in which the deformation energy was transferred to the tape.