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Microstructure And Critical Current Of Hot-Pressed Ybco Ceramics, Şadan Özcan, Tezer Firat, Engi̇n Özdaş

Turkish Journal of Physics

The effect of hot-pressing (HPing) on the densification and the superconducting properties of YBCO were investigated. The phases and microstructure were analysed by XRD and SEM and transport properties were studied by I-V and AC susceptibility measurements. Relative density up to 93% and critical current density of 509 A/cm^{2} at 77 K were achieved through uniaxial HPing at 800°C under 325 kg/cm^{2} pressure for 4 hours. HPing raised the J_{c} from 80 A/cm^{2} to 509 A/cm^{2}. These results and AC susceptibility measurements reveal that the weak links or pinning forces were improved by increasing HPing pressure.