Effect of hot isostatic pressing on RBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 superconductors

Abstract

In an effort to make dense, consolidated superconductors, the hot isostatic pressing process was applied to the RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} system, where R is a rare-earth element. The authors have demonstrated the applicability of the hot isostatic pressing process to produce a fine-grained consolidated solid which can be cut into any desired form. The grain refinement that occurred during hot isostatic pressing was related to the fracture of coarse-grained particles during pressurization. Hot isostatic pressing combined with post-annealing increased the superconducting onset temperature to >95 K. Because of the grain refinement and the higher {Tc} achieved, the superconductor material processed by hot isostatic pressing is also expected to have higher current density, J{sub c}, than its sintered counterpart. The hot isostatic pressing process was also used successfully for the system Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O to make dense, bulk superconducting material.