skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Processing relationships in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ superconductors

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5530906

Samples of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ were prepared by solid state reaction of Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/, BaO/sub 2/, and CuO powders mixed in stoichiometric proportions. Powders reacted at 900/sup 0/C-925/sup 0/C in air were pressed at 35 MPa into rectangular bars and sintered at 950/sup 0/C in air for six hours. Slow cooling at 50/sup 0/C/hour promoted complete transformation to the orthorhombic structure. The effects of subsequent oxidation processing on superconducting properties were also investigated. Oxidation anneals at one atmosphere pressure in flowing O/sub 2/ over the temperature range from 300 to 550/sup 0/C were performed. Results indicate that oxidation at 450/sup 0/C optimized the superconducting transition temperature at 91K with a 2-degree transition width. Subsequent high-pressure oxidation (2000 psi O/sub 2/) at 200/sup 0/C for one week significantly degraded the superconducting characteristics. Results based on iodometric titration measurements and thermogravimetric analysis suggest that the copper valency is about 2.3 and oxygen stoichiometry is 6.94 (x = 0.06) in samples processed to optimize superconducting properties. 11 refs., 3 figs.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5530906
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-15380; CONF-871124-58; ON: DE88005137
Resource Relation:
Conference: Fall meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA, USA, 30 Nov 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English