ND SUBSTITUTION IN Y BA SITES IN MELT-PROCESSED YBA2CU3O7-DELTA THROUGH ND2O3 ADDITIONS/

YBa2Cu3O7-delta (Y123) samples with excess Nd2O3 and Y2O3 additions in the same molar ratios were melt textured in air. In the Nd-doped samp les, in addition to Y ion site substitution, partial substitution into the Ba2+ sites is anticipated because of the similar ionic sizes of N d3+ and Ba2+. The microstructure, T-c, and magnetic properties of Nd-d oped samples were analyzed and compared with undoped Y123 and samples with excess Y2O3. The Nd2O3 additions lead to significant magnetizatio n improvements, likely due to both rare earth- and Ba-site substitutio n by the doped Nd3+ ions, and to increases in T-c. Y2O3 additions resu lted in no marked property enhancement.