Multiple current limiting mechanisms exist from the nanometer to millimeter scale in Ag-sheathed (Bi, Pb)-2223 tapes. Recent studies of the zero-field critical current density (J{sub c} (0T, 77K)), the irreversibility field (H*) and the crack microstructure elucidate these properties. We show that H*(77K) can vary significantly over the range (approximately)120-260 mT, independently of J{sub c} (0T, 77K). Cracks, actual or incipient, exist on the sub to several hundred micron scale. Surface magneto optical imaging of whole tapes, correlated to subsequent ultrasonic fracture analysis of. the bare 2223 filaments extracted by dissolving away the Ag shows that even composites having J{sub c} (0T, 77K) values of 60 kA/cm2 exhibit strong signs of unhealed rolling damage. These combined studies show that today's very best 2223 tapes are still far from full optimization.

Irreversibility lines for Ag/(Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O{sub y}(2223) wires prepared through a phase formation- decomposition-recovery (PFDR) process and normal annealing process were determined using both AC susceptibility measurements under DC fields and magnetisation measurements. It was found that flux pinning was enhanced in the PFDR processed samples over the normal processed samples, in particular at temperature above 77 K. The PFDR process results in high mass density, grain alignment, uniform distribution of impurity precipitates and high density of defects. The irreversibility temperatures scaled with the applied field according to H13, which is in contrast to H23 law for YBa2Cu3O{sub 7-x} and conventional superconductors. The irreversibility lines for PFDR processed tapes showed a crossover with those for normal processed tapes at temperature below {Tc} of the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2CaCu2O{sub 8+x} (2212), suggesting that at temperature above {Tc} of the 2212 phase, the 2212 as nonsuperconducting region, may serve as effective pinning sites for fluxoids.