Fabrication and evaluation of high Tc cermet superconductors

Since the discovery of a new class of ceramic superconductors, a rapid series of advances in developing materials having higher Tc have taken place. Typical of these high Tc (Tc>900K) superconductor is the so-called 1-2-3 type compound (e.g., YBa2Cu3O6.5+x with 0<x<0.5). Available data indicate that these materials are extremely brittle and have poor mechanical strength. These materials are also difficult to densify. While these materials usually have high Hc value, they possess low Jc value. The authors report on superconducting cermets containing Ag and YBa2Cu3O6.5+x. The cermet improves the mechanical properties, reduces porosity and allows mechanical deformation and orientation of grains. The cermet shows Meissner effect below 900K