DECOMPOSITION OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS IN WATER

Changes of magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity of ceram ic superconductors of nominal composition YBa2Cu3O7-y and Bi1.4Pb0.6Sr 2Ca2Cu3.6Ox observed during their soaking in water are reported. It wa s found that the YBa2Cu3O7-y superconductor is destroyed in few minute s by boiling water. At lower temperatures the hydrolysis reduces the v olume of the superconductive phase, as seen from the susceptibility me asurements. Reaction of Bi1.4Pb0.6Sr2Ca2Cu3.6Ox with water causes a de crease of the relative volume of both superconducting phases at a rate substantially higher for the high temperature one (T(c) = 110 K).