MELT PROCESSING OF POWDERED ARC-CAST YBA2CU3OY MATERIALS

We report the Arc-Quench-Powder-Growth (AQPG) process as a modification of the QMG technique. Pellets of YBa2Cu3Oy were quenched by arc-casting in a water cooled mould and then crushed to give powder which was compacted and then subjected to a melt growth process. As a result of this processing, large grained textured YBCO material was produced. The microstructure and physical properties of these AQPG samples were investigated when subject to various temperature cycles. It was found that the volume fraction and size distribution of the second phase inclusions were dependent upon the maximum temperature during the melt growth process. Critical currents of the samples have been measured by magnetisation using a VSM.