Bi-2223/Ag/barrier/Ag single-core tapes with various oxide barrier materials (BaZrO₃ , SrCO₃ , ZrO₂ and Al₂ O₃ ) have been prepared by PIT. The I -V curves and ac susceptibility measurements have been performed for tapes with identical heat treatment history. Young's moduli of these tape samples have been evaluated by three-point bending and the structure of barrier powders and BSCCO cores was analysed by SEM and XRD, respectively. It was found that the shape of I -V curves, the current transfer lengths and the mechanical properties of tapes are all affected by the oxide barrier type and the barrier thickness, as well as by its porosity and uniformity. This is because the oxide barrier controls the oxygen diffusion during the tape heat treatment and simultaneously the HTS phase formation kinetics, its purity and content within the superconducting core. On the base of the results obtained for single-core tapes, two kinds of multifilamentary composite were made and tested.