Thermochemical investigations into the system Y-Ba-Cu-O

For a consistent thermodynamic description of the quaternary system Y-Ba-Cu-O, the binary and ternary subsystems must be known. The metallic binaries and the ternary system Y-Ba-Cu have been evaluated by the authors. Discrepancies within the Cu-O system made a thorough experimental re-investigation necessary, leading to a new consistent thermodynamic data set for copper-oxygen which can now serve as a basis for the description of phase equilibria of all high temperature superconductors. Extensive experimental work on the ternaries Y-Cu-O and Ba-Cu-O, which are oxygen partial pressure dependent, revealed liquid phases down to 790degC. The ternary Y-Ba-O could be described more easily on the basis of literature values and present experimental results, because it does not contain any liquid phases at relevant temperatures. The representation of the quaternary Y-Ba-Cu-O is complicated both by its dependence on the oxygen potential and the existence of liquid oxide phases. In contrast to common practice, the present investigations had to start from Cu-free Ba-Y-O in order to avoid unknown liquid phases in the experiments. The present results being insufficient for a complete description of the quaternary system, the work is being continued within an EC joint research project. (orig.) With 84 refs., 8 tabs., 47 figs