Fabrication and Transport Critical Current Densities of MgB2/Fe/Cu Multifilament Tapes without Any Intermediate Annealing

We have fabricated superconducting 6 and 7 filaments MgB2/Fe/Cu tapes by ex situ powder-in-tube method using Cu-sheath without any intermediate annealing. Properties of two different multicore MgB2/Fe/Cu tapes annealed at 900 degrees C for 2 h in high purity argon gas atmosphere were compared. The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, electron dispersive spectroscopy, optical microscopy, critical transition temperature, transport critical current density, and magnetic measurements. Transport critical current densities of the 6 and 7 filaments tapes were found to be 450 A/cm(2) and 190 A/cm(2) at 20 K, respectively. From X-ray diffraction measurements, lattice parameters a and c were determined. From dc resistivity measurements, the connectivity between grains was investigated by using Rowell's connectivity analysis.