Processing and critical current density of bulk high-Tc superconductors

Processing methods for production of bulk high-Tc superconductors and the critical current densities that can be achieved are reviewed. Conductors made by conventional forming and sintering methods can generally sustain only small current densities. Melting and powder-in-tube methods yield superior conductors, but further improvements are necessary before these superconductors can be employed in most large-scale applications.