MICROSTRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES OF Y(1)BA(2)CU(3) OXIDE FIBERS

Dense, superconductive Y(1)Ba(2)Cu(3) oxide (SC-123) fibers can be prepared by spinning a dispersion of a particulate SC-123 precursor in an organic polymer solution followed by firing. Critical current density (J(c)) of the SC-123 fibers ranges from 600 to 1600 A/cm2 at 77 K. The J(c) correlates with room-temperature (RT) electrical resistivity. Implications of this correlation on grain boundary structure are discussed. The structure and properties of these SC-123 fibers are compared with fibers made using particulate SC-123 instead of precursor material. Melt-texturing of the SC-123 fibers will also be discussed.