The effect of Y-1/Nd-1(211) additions on the properties of the Y-0.5/Nd-0.5(123) composite.

The effect of Y-1/Nd-1(211) additions on the microstructure and superconduc ting properties of the Y-0.5/Nd-0.5 (123) system was investigated using a m elt-processing technique in air. The microstructure investigation revealed a significant preference for Nd to dominate the Re site of the 123 phase wi th a similar trend for Y to dominate the Re site of the 211 inclusions. Tra nsition temperatures (T-c) exceeding 90K and magnetically induced critical current densities (J(c)) similar to 10000A/cm(2) at zero fields were obtain ed for many samples. All samples exhibited a peak effect (PE) that appeared to flatten or even vanish at temperatures greater than or equal to 77K. Fo r the 211 particles refinement reached in this study, no significant effect of these particles was noticed on the flux-pinning properties of the Y/Nd( 123) system. Extensive analysis of pinning for both a Y/Nd (123) single cry stal and melt-textured samples is being reported elsewhere [1,2].