FABRICATION OF YBA2CU4O8 FROM TARTRATE GEL PRECURSORS

Ceramic YBa2Cu4O8 (Y-124) has been prepared by thermal decomposition o f tartaric acid gels. The synthesis was performed in an oxygen atmosph ere of 1 bar at a temperature, T(s), of only 710-degrees-C. The onset temperature of the material to the superconducting phase was around T( on) almost-equal-to 83 K. Zero resistance was measured at T(c0) almost -equal-to 47 K. When increasing T(s) to 814-degrees-C an increase in T (c0) to 72 K was observed. At temperatures T(s) = 890-degrees-C the Y- 124 phase starts to decompose.