Eutectic alignment of YBa2Cu3O7-x at 930deg C

Partial melting is the most common method of generating a liquid phase in order to assist in the alignment of YBa2Cu3O7-x (123). However, when heating to ∝1000deg C to decompose 123 partially, large grains of Y2BaCuO5 (211) precipitate from the liquid and are retained in the final phase assemblage. In the present work, it has been found possible to align 123 using the 123-BaCuO2-CuO eutectic liquid, which forms at ∝900deg C. This process can be done by using Ba-deficiant compositions (relative to 123) and heating at 930deg C. The resultant microstructures are highly aligned, with minute and evenly dispersed grains of 211 throughout the 123 matrix. The addition of silver improves the degree of alignment