The Cu-, Fe- and Ag-sheathed tapes were manufactured under various conditions. It was found that Cu-sheathed tapes could show a higher critical current density, than did Fe-sheathed tapes, when heat-treated below 850C. The influence of different overall mechanical deformation rates was studied for tapes sheathed by all 3 metals. By increasing the deformation rate, the critical current density was improved by about an order of magnitude in the case of Cu-sheathed tapes, while the critical current density of Fe-sheathed tapes remained constant.

Influence of Ag, Cu and Fe Sheaths on MgB2 Superconducting Tapes. S.Zhou, A.V.Pan, M.Ionescu, H.Liu, S.Dou: Superconductor Science and Technology, 2002, 15, 236-40