Abstract: A novel process of the production and processing of high quality, high T.sub.c BSCCO or (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors starts with fabrication of a forming a bundle including a plurality of billets, each billet containing at least one filament comprising a dominant amount of an tetragonal BSCCO phase with selected intermediate phases, and substantially surrounded by a constraining metal. The bundle is thermomechanically consolidated to form a multifilamentary precursor article by applying pressure and heat to the bundle under conditions cooperatively selected to cause interdiffusion of said constraining metal at the interfaces between said metal and said filaments and substantially complete elimination of voids in said bundle, and the consolidation step is completed before any high strain longitudinal deformation is performed on the bundle.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor article comprises silver and an oxide superconductor having the formula Bi.sub.2-y Pb.sub.y Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 O.sub.10+x, where 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.5, and 0.3.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.4, the oxide superconductor characterized by a critical current transition temperature of greater than 111.0 K as defined by zero resistance by a four point linear probe method with zero resistance corresponding to a resistivity of less that 10.sup.-8 .OMEGA.-cm.

Abstract: A novel process of the production and processing of high quality, high T.sub.c (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors starts with fabrication of a precursor article including selected intermediate phases with desired chemical and structural properties. The precursor fabrication includes introducing the reacted mixture having a dominant amount of the tetragonal BSCCO phase into a metal sheath, and sealing the reacted mixture within said sheath, heating the mixture at a second selected processing temperature in an inert atmosphere with a second selected oxygen partial pressure for a second selected time period, the second processing temperature and the second oxygen partial pressure being cooperatively selected to form a dominant amount of an orthorhombic BSCCO phase in the reacted mixture.

Abstract: A method for preparing a BSCCO-2223 oxide superconducting article includes annealing an oxide superconductor article comprised of BSCCO-2223 oxide superconductor at a temperature selected from the range of about 500.degree. C..ltoreq.T.ltoreq.787.degree. C. and an annealing atmosphere having an oxygen pressure selected from within the region having a lower bound defined by the equation, P.sub.O2 (lower).gtoreq.3.5.times.10.sup.10 exp(-32,000/T+273) and an upper bound defined by the equation, P.sub.O2 (upper).ltoreq.1.1.times.10.sup.12 exp(-32,000/T+273). The article is annealed for a time sufficient to provide at least a 10% increase in critical current density as compared to the critical current density of the pre-anneal oxide superconductor article. An oxide superconductor having the formula Bi.sub.2-y Pb.sub.y Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.10+x, where 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.5 and where 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.

Abstract: A method for preparing an oxide superconductor article includes exposing the article after deformation of the article to a final heat treatment having the steps of (a) heating the article at a temperature sufficient to partially melt the article, such that a liquid phase co-exists with the desired oxide superconductor phase; and (b) cooling to and holding the article at a temperature sufficient to transform the liquid phase into the desired oxide superconductor, where no deformation occurs after the final heat treatment. The liquid phase of step (a) wets surfaces of a defect contained within the mixed phase, whereby upon transformation of the liquid in step (b) to the desired oxide superconductor, the defect is healed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a precursor powder to an oxide superconductor, namely a coated particle comprising a metal oxide particle core (including a mixed metal oxide, e.g., BSCCO-2212 or YBCO-123) on which is deposited a secondary metal oxide coating (e.g., M.sub.n CuO.sub.x or CuO). The metal oxide particle and secondary metal oxide coating together comprise metallic elements having a stoichiometry appropriate for the formation of a desired oxide superconductor. The metal oxide reacts with the secondary metal oxide under suitable conditions (e.g., heating) to form the desired oxide superconductor (e.g., BSCCO-2223 or YBCO-124). In another aspect, the invention is a method for preparing such a coated particle, comprising: preparing a precursor solution comprising a metal .mu.

Abstract: A fluid pumping system comprises a fluid pump having multiple fluid outlet flows coupled to relatively low and high pressure loads. A control valve system controls the pressure levels of the low and high pressure flows, and relieves excess fluid from the high pressure flow to the low pressure flow to augment the low pressure flow.