Eur. Phys. J. B 4, 55-59 (1998)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050350

Melt texturing of NdBa₂Cu₃O₇₋₈−Nd₄Ba₂Cu₂O₁₀ superconductor in short time

¹ Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, 500058, India
² School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India

Received: 3 September 1997
Revised: 20 December 1997
Accepted: 22 January 1998
Published online: 15 July 1998

Abstract

We have melt processed NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-8-Nd₄Ba₂Cu₂O₁₀ (NdBCO) superconducting composites with various rates of cooling through their peritectic formation temperature. The microstructural studies reveal that the sample processed even with 40°C/h rate of cooling is built up with aligned microstructure which is necessary for superior transport current and magnetic properties. In the case of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-8, 1°C/h rate of cooling is necessary to get highly textured microstructure. Magnetic flux profile measurements reveal that even though the intradomain region is well textured and had good transport and magnetic properties, the interdomain region is relatively weak in the fast cooled sample in comparison with slow cooled ones but is much better than that in polycrystalline samples. The results suggest that, the NdBCO superconductor can be melt processed in short time with much better microstructural features in comparison with YBCO system.