Title: Influence of starting powders on the microstructure of TSMG YBa2Cu3O7/Y2BaCuO5<

Authors: P. Diko, S. Kracunovska, W. Gawalek

Addresses: Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 04353 Kosice, Slovakia. ' SFachhochschule Jena, Fachbereich SciTec, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745 Jena, Germany. ' Institut fur Physikalische Hochtechnologie, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 9, Jena D-07745, Germany

Abstract: The samples for the TSMG process are fabricated from powders of suitable composition by standard powder metallurgy technology (powder mixing, milling, pressing and sintering and melt-growth). The changes in powder size and morphology induced by milling are characterised by electron microscopy and Particle Size Distribution (PSD) measurements. The optimum milling conditions lead to a significant refinement and mixing of the Y2O3 and CeO2 additives and only slight refinement of the Y123 powders. On the nanoscale Y2O3 particles, Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) particles nucleate and grow which results in Y211 particle refinement and improvement of the superconducting properties.

Keywords: YBCO bulk superconductors; powder analysis; sintering; melt processing; microstructure analysis; metal powders; powder metallurgy; powder size; morphology; milling; superconducting properties.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2007.015729

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2007 Vol.28 No.3/4, pp.270 - 290

Published online: 11 Nov 2007 *

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