MELT PROCESSING OF POWDERED ARC-CAST YBA2CU3OY MATERIALS

We report the Arc-Quench-Powder-Growth (AQPG) process as a modificatio n of the QMG technique. Pellets of YBa2Cu3Oy were quenched by arc-cast ing 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. Th e microstructure and physical properties of these AQPG samples were in vestigated when subject to various temperature cycles. It was found th at the volume fraction and size distribution of the second phase inclu sions were dependent upon the maximum temperature during the melt grow th process. Critical currents of the samples have been measured by mag netisation using a VSM.