Effect of ultrasonic-vibration drawing process on Bi-2212 round wires

Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212)/Ag round wires were fabricated by imposing ultrasonic-vibration drawing (UVD) technique during both the single-filament and multi-filament cold-drawing processes. The frequency of ultrasonic-vibration was set fixed at 20 kHz and different output power density levels had been altered by varied amplitudes. The influence of ultrasonic-vibration on the deformation process of Ag metal sheath, filament density, Ag/superconductor ratio, wire dimension, drawing force reduction, and the superconducting properties of final wires has been systematically studied. Softening effect of ultrasonic-vibration on the Ag metal can be deduced with the decreasing drawing flow stress and drawing force under certain amplitude. It was found that powder densification could be promoted and higher filament volume fraction as well as high wire diameter uniformity had been reached with the introduction of UVD process, leading to the enhancement of J_c and J_E after proper heat treatment. Such technique could be considered in fabrication of Bi-2212 long wires as well as other superconducting materials.