Single (2223) Phase and Transport Current Path in Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O

Studies of DTA, XRD, resistivity and susceptibility are made for oxides with the nominal composition of Bi2Pb0.6Sr2Ca2Cu3O x . The (2223) phase has been singled out, to our knowledge, in the shortest sintering time reported so far in air from the partially melted phase by introducing the re-press process, but the value of T c(ρ=0) is lowered to ∼73 K by a disturbance in current paths at the grain boundaries. A prolonged sintering improves this and enhances T c(ρ=0) to above 100 K. Taken together, we can see the efficacy of the re-press process and the slowness of the intergrain reaction to open up the current paths.