Microstructural studies of quenched partially-melted Y-123 materials and Y-123 with Y-211, PtO2 and CeO2 additions

The microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (Y-123) materials partially-melted in air and quenched from the temperature range 900–1100 °C, has been characterized using a combination of X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analyses, transmission electron microscopy and energy and wave dispersive X-ray spectrometries. The microstructural studies reveal significant changes in the character of the quenched partial-melt as a function of temperature and time before quenching. BaCu2O2 and BaCuO2 are found to co-exist in stoichiometric samples quenched from the temperature range 920–960 °C. Under suitable cooling conditions, large pockets of melt cristallize as BaCuO2 with an exsolution of BaCu2O2 in the form of thin plates (≈ 50–100 nm thick) along facets. Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) additions are associated with the formation of BaCu2O2 at 1100 °C. Preliminary results on the effects of PtO2 and CeO2 additions to Y-123 (and Y-123 with Y-211 additions) show that these enhace the formation of BaCu2O2 at the melting temperature of 1100 °C.