DIRECTIONAL GROWTH OF EXTRUDED YBA2CU3O7-X SUPERCONDUCTORS

Textured bulk YBa2Cu3Ox high-temperature superconductor samples were f abricated through the extrusion and the directional growth of supercon ductor grains reacted from Y2BaCuO5, BaCuO2 and CuO powder mixtures. W ires of 2 mm in diameter were extruded to several hundred meters. The directional growth under proper conditions eliminated extrusion defect s such as pores and voids, and the critical current of the sample incr eased. The sample grown directionally at 1155-degrees-C consisted of a dense microstructure and an almost perfectly aligned grain structure, and showed a high critical current density of over 10(4) A/cm2.