https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap:2001128
Top seeding melt texture growth of NdBaCuO pellets in air*
CRISMAT Laboratory (UMR 6508 CNRS/ISMRA), 6 boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen, France
Corresponding author: fabien.giovannelli@ismra.fr
Received:
31
July
2000
Revised:
30
October
2000
Accepted:
14
November
2000
Published online: 15 March 2001
Most of NdBaCuO synthesis were realized under oxygen controlled melt growth (OCMG) which
allows to avoid the solid solution formation. However, for industrial applications air synthesis is preferable due to its simplicity and its cost. In this work, different seeds and thermal cycles have been investigated in order to optimize the nucleation conditions for the obtention of a single domain. Several criteria have been defined for the choice of the seed. The solid solution
Nd1+xBa2−xCu3Oy formed in these air synthesised samples appears in the range of x = 0.10 to 0.15, corresponding to 
between 60 K and 80 K. The nominal composition and the synthesis conditions (substrate, thermal treatments.) have to be accurately defined in order to avoid neodymium-rich solid solution formation.
PACS: 74.60.Jg – Critical currents / 74.72.Jt – Other cuprates
© EDP Sciences, 2001
