Comparison of the behavior of the three superconductors YBCO, Bi-2212 and MgB2 in different environmental conditions

Powders and electrophoretically produced coatings of YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO), Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) and MgB2 superconductors were studied for their stability under different environmental conditions, such as UV radiation, various relative humidity conditions, salt spraying, temperature, water environment. It resulted that Bi-2212 is a stable compound, while YBCO is greatly affected by moisture and MgB2 is affected by increasing temperature. All three superconductors were decomposed almost immediately after immersion in water or sea water.