POLYMERIC PRECURSORS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BI1.5PB0.5SR2CA2CU3OX

The Pechini process has been used to prepare bulk Bi(Pb)SrCaCuO superconductors by employing the polymeric citric acid/ethylene glycol (CA/G) derived precursors. With appropriate heat treatment these precursors can be converted into a pure Bi1.5Pb0.5Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox superconductor with Tc in the range of 100-110 K and with good stoichiometry control and uniform grain size. The chemistry involved in the materials processing leading to the formation of the superconductor and the results of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA), and SEM morphological studies obtained in our investigations on the precursors as well as the oxide superconductors are presented. © 1992.