Directional Growth of Extruded YBa2CuO7-x Superconductors

Abstract

Textured bulk YBa2Cu3Ox high-temperature superconductor samples were fabricated through the extrusion and the directional growth of superconductor grains reacted from Y2BaCuO5, BaCuO2 and CuO powder mixtures. Wires of 2 mm in diameter were extruded to several hundred meters. The directional growth under proper conditions eliminated extrusion defects such as pores and voids, and the critical current of the sample increased. The sample grown directionally at 1155-degrees-C consisted of a dense microstructure and an almost perfectly aligned grain structure, and showed a high critical current density of over 10(4) A/cm2.