THE EFFECT OF MOLDING PRESSURE ON THE STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF Y1BA2CU3O7-DELTA SUPERCONDUCTORS

Measurements of structural and electrical properties as a function of the molding pressure in Y1Ba2Cu3O7 - delta superconductors have been p erformed to investigate the texturing behavior. The magnitudes of the molding pressure were 0.5 x 10(3) N/cm(2), 1 x 10(3) N/cm(2), 2 x 10(3 ) N/cm(2), and 4 x 10(3) N/cm(2). As the molding pressure increases, t he anisotropy of the crystal structure decreases and the crystal grows preferentially along the c-axis. As the molding pressure increases, s ince the size of the grain becomes larger due to the decreased porosit y, denser textures are formed. This result indicates that the critical current density is improved, resulting in increased thermal stability at higher molding pressure. While the molding pressure does not affec t the oxygen mole fraction below 500 degrees C, increases in the moldi ng pressure have a remarkable effect on the formation of textures and on the onset temperature for the superconducting transition in Y1Ba2CU 3O7 - delta These results indicate that structural and electrical prop erties in Y1Ba2Cu3O7 - delta superconductors are affected by the moldi ng pressure during growth.