Open AccessProcessing considerations for adding nanometer-scale oxides to enhance flux pinning in high-temperature superconductors
Author(s) -
Yu Xu,
K. C. Goretta,
M. M. Cuber,
M. L. Burdt,
Leihao Feng,
N. Chen,
U. Balachandràn,
Ming Xu
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/554893
Subject(s) - superconductivity , nanometre , materials science , flux pinning , pellets , oxide , flux (metallurgy) , high temperature superconductivity , melting temperature , condensed matter physics , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , metallurgy , composite material , physics , engineering
Several nanometer-scale oxide inclusions were added to Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub x} high-temperature superconductors to determine their effectiveness in creating intragranular flux-pinning sites. Powder pellets were fabricated and heat treated by partial-melt processing. Effects of the additives on melting response, superconducting properties, and microstructural development were examined. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} additions exhibited the most promise for forming stable pinning centers, ZrO{sub 2} and SnO{sub 2} additions were moderately promising, TiO{sub 2}, Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and ZnO additions were less promising, and Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} additions destroyed superconductivity