MICROSTRUCTURE OF YBA2CU3O7-X SUPERCONDUCTOR SYNTHESIZED WITH Y2BACUO5, BACUO2 AND CUO

YBa2Cu3O7-x (123) superconductor was synthesized with pre-synthesized Y2BaCuO5 (211), BaCuO2 and CuO powder. The development of microstructures in this system was studied in detail. Highly densified and well aligned 123 phase can be obtained by a slow cooling heat-treatment and a transient liquid phase sinterting. The presence of transient liquid phase provides a large driving force for the formation of long plate shape 123 grains. Finely and homogeneously distributed 211 particles are trapped in 123 phase. A well-aligned grain structure of 123 phase was produced by the applying of a slow cooling heat-treatment to this system.