Superconducting properties of textured (LREI0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33)Ba2Cu3Oy (LREI = Nd, Sm) processed by OCMG

((LRE)(0.33)Eu0.33Gd0.33)Ba2Cu3O, bulk superconductor (LRE = Sm, Nd) were textured by the top seeded melt textured growth method in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. Their physical properties and their microstructure were studied (Sm0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33)Ba2Cu3Oy textured material exhibited a critical temperature of 94 K and critical current densities at 77 K of 50 000 A CM-2 under self field and 20 000 A cm(-2) under 2 T. In the case of (Nd0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33)Ba(2)Cu(3)Oy, an optimal critical temperature of 95 K is reached. Moreover, high critical current density under self field of 60 000 A cm(-2) is obtained. This last result has been confirmed by transport measurements. Indeed, critical current densities at 77 K higher than 50 000 A cm(-2) have been measured when the applied field was below 2 T. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.