Infiltration‐Growth Processing of NdBa2Cu3O7‐delta Superconductor

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Abstract
NdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7‐delta (Nd‐123) superconductor has been processed to obtain a highly textured microstructure with micrometer‐sized spherical Nd 4 Ba 2 Cu 2 O 10 (Nd‐422) inclusions through a process that involves the infiltration of liquid phases into a shaped preform followed by its slow cooling through the peritectic formation temperature of Nd‐123. The process was carried out in high‐purity argon (maximum of 4 ppm of oxygen) to reduce the formation of low‐ T c solid solutions. A major advantage of the process is that it minimizes the possibility of Nd‐422 coarsening in the liquid. The result is a very uniform distribution of nearly spherical Nd‐422 inclusions with 80% of the particles having a diameter less than 1 µm, in the highly textured Nd‐123 matrix. Since the present process eliminates shrinkage and large hollows within the interior of the samples, it can enable the fabrication of 3‐dimensional complex‐shaped objects with good dimensional tolerance and high J c for applications. The critical current densities in the Nd‐123/Nd‐422 composites have been measured and the values obtained are discussed in the context of the microstructure of the material.

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