Performing effective YBCO grain alignment and growth by silver and spurious phase addition

The effect of silver and the so-called green phase, Y2BaCuO5 (211), on YBa2 Cu3Ox (123) melt textured samples has been investigated to check whether be tter grain alignment is possible in shorter times. We demonstrate that the addition of silver to YBCO always led to enhanced texturing in short times, while not disturbing the typical microstructure of the composite 123 plus 211, that is believed essential for high critical currents in these high Tc superconductors.