THE DRAWING BEHAVIOR OF Y-BA-CU-O SOL FROM NONAQUEOUS SOLUTION BY A COMPLEXING PROCESS

A complexing process is developed to prepare Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting fibers. The process is not identical to typical sol-gel processes; here the resulting gel network is built up by hydrogen bonding linkage among complexing species in non-aqueous solution. Cu acetate, [Cu(OAC)(2)], Ba methoxyethoxide [Ba(ORE)(2)] and Y acetate [Y(OAC)(3)] are used as precursors for preparing homogeneous gels while cy-methacrylic acid (HOAA(a)lpha) and diethylenetriamine (DETA) as complexing agents, and methoxyethanol (REOH) as solvent. Fibers drawn from a sol obtained through reduced pressure present no or little deformation at 80 degrees C via adjusting the amount of DETA and HOAA(a)lpha. Cu(OAC)(2), Ba(ORE)(2) and Y(OAC)(3) in the complexing process have been demonstrated to form gels without hydrolysis and condensation at ambient atmosphere. The relationships between the drawing behavior of sols and gel structure with different amounts of DETA and HOAA(a)lpha are suggested. The concentration region of drawing the gel fibers with no or little deformation heated at 80 degrees C is also found.