Surface versus bulk pinning in a HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+x ceramics

Flux creep measurements on a HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+x ceramics are reported. The results of the magnetic relaxation measurements are analyzed both by assuming that the pinning is due to the existence of a surface barrier or exclusively caused by bulk pinning. The action of both the surface and the bulk barriers is evidenced. At 70 K, a very high critical current density of the surface currents is determined, which is higher than the critical current density of the bulk. The field and temperature dependence of the pinning behaviour reflects mainly bulk pinning in 2D. The measurements were repeated after 4 and 12 months to investigate the influence of aging. A destruction of the superconducting properties of the grain boundaries accompanied by a degradation of the surfaces of the grains with time is proved.