Abstract

Growth kinetics and microstructural development of single crystal YBa2Cu3O7−x (Y123) superconductors, prepared by a melt texturing method under isothermal undercooling conditions, were investigated. At small undercooling, ΔT = 6 K, the initial growth of Y123 crystal was terminated at a size of ∼8 mm × 8 mm in the semisolid phase before the entire sample was fully solidified through the peritectic reaction. With incremental increase of ΔT, the growth of the crystal continued so that the whole sample (22 mm diameter and 8 mm thickness) solidified as a single crystal. Termination of the crystal growth at a given undercooling temperature was attributed to the coarsening process of Y211 particles in the melt associated with their surface energy contributions. Isothermal growth of large size Y123 single crystal requires a continuous supply of Y solute to the solidification interface which can be achieved by continuing dissolution of coarsening Y211 particles through further undercooling of the melt.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Publication Status

Full Text Access

Keywords and Phrases

Solidification; Inclusions; Microstructure-final; Oxide superconductors

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 Elsevier, All rights reserved

Publication Date

2005-01-01

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