Processing of high‐temperature superconducting tapes

Long high‐temperature superconductor tapes have progressed immensely recently. For example, the past two years have seen a factor of five improvement in the effective critical current of (Bi,Pb) 2 + x Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10 + d cables. The various synthesis and processing techniques are briefly reviewed and areas pointed out where much work still remains to be done, for example, on improving the mechanical properties of the silver sheath by alloying.