Dependence of YBaCuO Superconductor Properties on Constituent Oxide Preparation: I, CuO and BaCO3 Pretreatment

A systematic study has been made of the influence of different solid-state decomposition preparations of copper oxide and barium carbonate on the synthesis of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x superconductor. Considerable morphological control on the end product can be achieved through a monitored calcining of starting materials. The ceramic particle size is found to be primarily dependent on initial CuO morphology, whereas uniformity of the ceramic and the occurrence of an intergranular phase is sensitive to the form of the BaO precursor. The use of accoustic testing for characterizing the ceramic quality is suggested.