Study of the texturing in BSCCO-AG tapes through magnetic measurements

We have developed a method that allows, by a simple set of magnetic measurements, to study the texturing of the grains inside a BSCCO-Ag tape. Because the texture is anisotropic we define the angle theta (L) that identifies the mean grain misalignment angle with respect to the tape surface in longitudinal direction (i.e. rolling direction) and the angle theta (T) in transverse direction. The technique is based on the assumption that, because of the very high anisotropy of the critical current density in BSCCO superconducting compounds, the magnetic moment is essentially generated by the current circulating in the a-b planes of the BSCCO grains. The different magnetisation cycles, measured when the orientation of the magnetic field with respect to the tape surface is changed, depend only on the grain orientation inside the tape, which determines the effective magnetic field component normal to the a-b planes of the grains. Here we present the texture evolution of the BSCCO grains inside silver sheated multifilamentary tape starting from the initial steps of the mechanical deformation up to the final heating stage. The results obtained from the magnetic method are compared with those obtained with other methods, i.e. X-ray diffraction and critical current density anisotropy. Also results obtained on samples prepared in different way will be presented.