Fabrication of high performance Y-123/Y-24Nb1/Ag single grain composites

Y2Ba4CuMO (Y-2411, where M is a transition metal element) has been recognized as a potential candidate for enhanced flux pinning in Y–Ba–Cu–O (YBCO) bulk superconductors. However, the non-uniform distribution of Y-2411 in the superconducting phase matrix and the presence of a–c micro-cracks in the sample microstructure limit the magnetic field trapping ability of bulk YBCO containing these inclusions. Recent attempts to add Ag to the YBCO matrix have been observed to enhance the microstructural properties of Y-2411 containing materials. In this work we report the fabrication of high performance YBCO composite containing Y-24Nb1 (Y2Ba4CuNbOy) and metallic Ag. The average value of critical current density, Jc, is compared for samples containing different concentrations of Y-24Nb1. The microstructural features of these samples have been compared with a YBCO single grain processed with Y-24Nb1 and metallic Ag.