The thermal conductivity of silver and silver alloy sheaths for Bi-2223 tapes

We have measured the thermal and electrical conductivity of silver and silver alloy sheaths for Bi-2223 tapes. The thermal conductivity at 10 K varied from 1 to 104 W m(-1) K-1 (the upper values are for Ag sheaths and the lower, 1-10(2) W m(-1) K-1, for the alloy sheaths). The large spread of data for the alloy sheaths is due to the difference in composition and microstructure, which in case of the AgMg system depends on the thermal and mechanical history of alloy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.