Superconducting wire and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire comprising a ceramic superconductive material of composition AaBbCucOd, wherein:

• A is at least one of Y, La, and Bi;
• B is at least one of Ca, Sr, and Ba;
• and
• a, b, c, and d represent the relative molar ratios of A, B, Cu and O,
• said method comprising:
• preparing a raw material being in composition generally expressed in a formula AaBbCucC.sup.x c.sup.x, where C.sup.x represents at least a single element selected from oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine and sulfur and c.sup.x represents a number showing the composition ratio of C.sup.x ;
• melting said raw material in a vessel having a hole in communication with its interior to obtain a melt;
• linearly discharging said melt from said hole by either extrusion or drawout;
• and
• cooling and solidifying said linearly discharged melt to obtain a solidified body;
• wherein at least one of said melting, discharging said melt and cooling and solidifying steps is performed in an atmosphere containing a C.sup.Y component of partial pressure higher than the partial pressure of C.sup.Y in the atmospheric air, C.sub.Y being a gas containing at least a single element selected from oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, fluorine and sulfur.

A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire comprising a ceramic superconductive material of composition AsBbCucOd, wherein:

• A is at least one of Y, La, and Bi;
• B is at least one of Ca, Sr, and Ba;
• and
• a,b,c and d represent the relative molar ratios of A,B,Cu and O,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• preparing a raw material of composition AaBbCucOd
• melting said raw material in a vessel having a hole in communication with its interior to obtain a melt;
• linearly discharging said melt from said hole by either extrusion or drawout;
• and
• cooling and solidifying said linearly discharged melt to obtain a solidified body,
• said cooling and solidifying step being performed at a temperature less than the solidifying point of said raw material but not more than 100.degree. C. less than said solidifying point.