Environmental contamination of amorphous Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O fibers

A study of the environmental contamination of amorphous YBa₂Cu₃O₇- fibers has been undertaken in order to determine the best method to handle these materials during the fabrication of superconducting wire. The fibers often need to be handled in organic solvents as part of the cleaning and manipulating process. In organics that are free of water, the fibers retain their mechanical strength with little carbon contamination or other ill effects. Water, however, causes premature crystallization and destroys the mechanical strength of the fibers.