Stability of growing front of YBa2Cu3Ox superconductor in the presence of Pt and CeO2 additions

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Abstract
Distinctive microstructures of textured YBa2Cu3Ox (123) superconductors were examined by scanning electron microscopy and metallurgical microscopy. The samples were synthesized under a residual thermal gradient by using a modified melt textured growth on a Y2BaCuO5 (211) substrate. Also, the unidirectional solidification by a zone-melting method was performed to fabricate 123 superconducting bars up to 12 cm long placed on the 211 substrate in the horizontal arrangement, with a growth rate R=0.5 mm/h and a temperature gradient of G=20 °C/cm (G/R=400 °C h/cm2). A ramping temperature of 1 °C/h (GR) was applied in both syntheses. Typical defects running parallel to (001) planes associated with 211 trapped particles were observed (so-called platelet structure). Besides these, unusual defects were observed running parallel to (100) and (010) planes in textured 123+Pt superconductors, and interpreted as the result of an instability of the planar front in the presence of fine 211 particles. A theoretical model of planar interface stability confirms a strong dependence of stability region on the size of 211 particles in the melt.

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