Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role of pO2 in microstructural development and properties of YBa2Cu3Ox superconductors

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An evaluation of the effects of oxygen partial pressure (pO2) on sintering behavior and the resulting microstructure of YBa2Cu3Ox (YBCO) indicates that sintering kinetics are enhanced at reduced pO2. The density of specimens sintered at 910 °C increased from 79 to 94% theoretical when pO2 was decreased from 0.1 to 0.0001 MPa. It is believed that increase in density with decrease in pO2 is the result of enhanced sintering kinetics, due probably to increased defect concentration, decreased activation energy of the rate-controlling species, and possibly the presence of a small amount of liquid phase. Sintering at 910 °C resulted in a fine-grain microstructure, with an average grain size of ≍4 μm. Such a microstructure results in reduced microcracking. Consequently, strength as high as 191 MPa is achieved. Reduced microcracking may have important implications for developing microstructures with improved critical current density.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D. Shi, D. W. Capone, II, G. T. Goudey, J. P. Singh, N. J. Zaluzec, and K. C. Goretta, Mater. Lett. 6 (7), 217–221 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. D. S. Kupperman, J. P. Singh, and R. L. Hitterman, “Effect of Grain Size on Strain in YBa2Cu3O7−x Using Neutron Diffraction,” J. Appl. Phys. (in review).

  3. J. P. Singh, H. J. Leu, R. B. Poeppel, E. Van Voorhees, G. T. Goudey, K. Winsley, and Donglu Shi, J. Appl. Phys. 66 (7), 3154–3159 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. P. Singh, D. Shi, and D. W. Capone, II, Appl. Phys. Lett. 53 (3), 237–239 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. T. Nishio, Y. Itoh, F. Ogasawara, M. Suganuma, Y. Yamada, and U. Mizutani, J. Mater. Sci. 24, 3228–3233 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. R. Prasad, N. C. Soni, A. Mohan, S. K. Khera, K. U. Nair, C. K. Gupta, C. V. Tomi, and S. K. Malik, Mater. Lett. 7 (1–2), 9–12 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nan Chen, Donglu Shi, and K. C. Goretta, J. Appl. Phys. 66 (6), 2485–2488 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Bormann and J. Nölting, Appl. Phys. Lett. 54 (21), 2148–2150 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. G. Dell’Agli, O. Marino, G. Mascolo, P. Perinice, A. DiChiara, G. Pepc, and U. Scotti Di Uccio, J. Mater. Sci.: Mater, in Elec. 1 (1), 20–24 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Feenstra, T. B. Lindemer, J. D. Budai, and M. D. Galloway, “Effect of Oxygen Pressure on the Synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7−x Thin Films by Post Deposition Annealing,” J. Appl. Phys. (in press).

  11. U. Balachandran, R. B. Poeppel, J. E. Emerson, S. A. Johnson, M. T. Lanagan, C. A. Youngdahl, Donglu Shi, K. C. Goretta, and N. G. Eror, Mater. Lett. 8 (11,12), 454–456 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. E. Dorris, J. T. Dusek, J. J. Picciolo, R. A. Russel, J. P. Singh, and R. B. Poeppel, “YBa2Cu3O7−x Superconductor Coil: Processing and Properties,” Proc. Int. Conf. on Electrical Machines, Cambridge, MA, Aug. 12–15, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  13. T. M. Shaw, S. L. Shinde, D. Dimos, R. F. Cook, P. R. Duncombe, and C. Kroll, J. Mater. Res. 4, 248–256 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nan Chen, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, personal communication, 1991.

  15. T. J. Richardson and L. C. De Jonghe, J. Mater. Res. 5, 2066 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. A. G. Evans and Y. Fu, Advances in Ceramics, Vol 10: Structure and Properties of MgO and Al2O3 Ceramics, edited by W. D. Kingery (Am. Ceram. Soc, Westerville, OH, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  17. N. McN. Alford, J. D. Birchall, W. G. Clegg, M. A. Harmer, K. Kendall, and D. H. Jones, J. Mater. Sci. 23, 761 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials and Components Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 60439, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    J. P. Singh, R. A. Guttschow, J. T. Dusek & R. B. Poeppel

Authors
  1. J. P. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. A. Guttschow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. T. Dusek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. B. Poeppel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, J.P., Guttschow, R.A., Dusek, J.T. et al. Role of pO2 in microstructural development and properties of YBa2Cu3Ox superconductors. Journal of Materials Research 7, 2324–2332 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1992.2324

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1992.2324

Search

Navigation