Processing variables of the multi-seeded melt growth process of YBCO superconductors: the properties of YBCO samples with various grain junctions

Two-grain YBCO samples with various grain junctions were prepared by a mult i-seeded melt growth process and the levitation force and the trapped magne tic field of the samples were examined. The trapped magnetic held was dropp ed at all grain junctions and the degree of the deterioration depended on t heir crystallographic planes of the grains. The levitation forces of the sa mples with top surfaces normal to the c-axis (e.g., (1 0 0)/(1 0 0) and (1 1 0) (1 1 0) junctions) were higher than that of the samples with top surfa ce partly and completely parallel to the c-axis (e.g., (1 0 0)/(0 0 1) and (0 0 1)/(0 0 1) junctions). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.