ELASTICITY STUDIES OF RE-BA-CU-O HIGH-T-C SUPERCONDUCTORS

A series of RE-Ba-Cu-O high-T-c superconductors have been prepared by the solid-state reaction method. After usual characterisation of the s amples by XRD, electrical resistance, electron microscopy, bulk densit y and porosity studies, the longitudinal (V-l) and shear wave (V-s) ve locity measurements have been undertaken by the pulse transmission tec hnique. Using the experimental values of V-l and V-s, the Young modulu s (E), rigidity modulus (G) and Poisson ratio (sigma) have been evalua ted. As the porosity of the samples is as high as 39%, the elasticity parameters of a non-porous matrix have been obtained using Meckenzie's method. The variation of elastic constants with composition has been explained in terms of binding forces between various ions of the super conducting materials.