Preparation and superconducting properties of Ag/Hg-1223 PIT wires

Silver wires of the superconducting phase (Hg 0.8Re 0.2)Ba 2Ca 2Cu 3O 8+ δ (Hg,Re-1223), were prepared by the powder in tube technique followed by a post annealing treatment in a sealed quartz tube. The sintering reaction was carried out inside the quartz tube using a superconducting ceramic pellet and a drop of Hg(l) as external mercury sources. We have studied the amalgamation process in order to avoid the decomposition of the Hg,Re-1223 due to the imminent amalgamation between the silver and the Hg from the superconducting phase. Different annealing treatments of the wires were studied in order to increase the superconducting properties. We have found that using additional liquid Hg as an external source the amalgamation process can be controlled. The critical current density ( J c) values obtained were similar to the bulk specimens.