IMPROVEMENT OF MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF YBCO-AG COMPOSITE SUPERCONDUCTORS MADE BY MIXING WITH METALLIC AG POWDER AND AGNO3 SOLUTION

The role of Ag additions in the microstructural evolution and related mechanical properties of YBCO has been studied. Various amounts of Ag have been added to YBCO by two different mixing techniques, i.e. in th e form of metallic Ag powder and AgNO3 solution. The strength and frac ture toughness of YBCO specimen increased with increasing Ag content, probably because of strengthening mechanisms resulting from Ag additio n. In addition, YBCO-Ag composites showed higher values of strength an d fracture toughness when Ag was added in the form of AgNO3 solution c ompared with those when it was added in the form of metallic Ag powder . Specifically, an addition of 10 vol% Ag, made by mixing with metalli c Ag powder, increased strength from 88 to 116 MPa and fracture toughn ess from 1.6 to 2.6 MPa m(1/2). Corresponding improvements in strength and fracture toughness were 128 MPa and 2.9 MPa m(1/2), respectively, when YBCO was mixed with AgNO3 solution. The better mechanical proper ties of the YBCO-Ag specimen mixed by the solution method are believed to be due to the microstructure of more finely and uniformly distribu ted Ag particles. Furthermore, addition of Ag did not have an adverse effect on the critical current density of YBCO superconductors.