Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) particles distributed in the textured matrix play an impor
tant role for the superconducting properties. The Top-Seeded Melt Growth (T
SMG) process always leads to a macrosegregation of Y-211. For TSMG and Mult
i-Seeded Melt Growth (MSMG) monoliths, the characterization of the distribu
tion of the Y-211 particles was performed over slices in the (001) plane an
d (001) direction, respectively. As soon as the growth commences, a zone wi
th a low content of less than 10 mol% of Y-211 appears. The low content of
Y-211 can mainly be explained by the pushing/trapping model. This model rel
ates the radii of the smallest trapped Y-211 particles to the growth rate.
Furthermore, when the undercooling Delta T reaches 25 degrees C, the growth
front stops to push the particles and starts to trap them. (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science B.V. All rights reserved.