The Vickers microhardness of a BSCCO core in Ag-sheathed composites made by various deforming processes such as drawing, cold and hot hydrostatic-extrusion, rolling, and uniaxial pressing have been measured. Because the hardness of a material, defined as the resistance to indentation, can be simply measured, it is used for density indication in the ceramic core. Complex microhardness profiles in BSCCO core cross-sections have been compared in composites deformed by the mentioned processes. These results give information on how the applied deforming process can effect the ceramic core density as well as its homogeneity and so influence the critical current density and current distribution in BSCCO/Ag superconducting tapes.
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