Development and control of microstructures in directionally solidified REBa2Cu3O7 (RE = Y,Nd) superconductors

Directionally solidified REBa2CU3O7 (RE=Nd,Y) superconductors display a com plex microstructure which is generated during the solidification and anneal ing processes. The various defects influence the superconducting properties in different ways. The present article briefly reviews the characteristics of the different defect structures and evolution in connection with their effect on the critical currents. In this work, the defects are classified i nto strong pinning centres and currents limiting defects. Dislocation probl ems are addressed separately, emphasising on the generation of stacking fau lts, oxygenation effects and plastic deformation processing.