The effect of BaZrO3 addition on melt-processed YBa2Cu3O7–x superconductors

The effects of BaZrO3 addition on the thermal behavior and microstructure of YBCO superconductors have been investigated. The differential thermal analysis indicates that the peritectic decomposition temperature of YBCO precursor powder is not change when BaZrO3 is doped. The solidification temperature of YBCO changes with increasing of BaZrO3 addition, thus the window of solidification temperature is affected. The results of scanning electron microscopy show that the BaZrO3 particles are accumulated along the growth boundary, which result in the constitutional segregation of YBCO. The pushing–trapping theory is used to explain the phenomenon of segregation in the YBCO matrix.