A Reliable Method for Recycling (RE)‐Ba‐Cu‐O (RE: Sm, Gd, Y) Bulk Superconductors. Issue 9 (20th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Yunhua; Namburi, Devendra Kumar; Wang, Miao; Durrell, John; Dennis, Anthony; Cardwell, David; Goyal, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Ceramic Society. Volume 98:Issue 9(2015)
• Page Start: 2760
• Page End: 2766
• Publication Date: 2015-06-20
• Subjects: Ceramics -- Periodicals; 620.1405
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.13683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7820

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jace13683-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Single grain (RE)‐Ba‐Cu‐O (RE: Sm, Gd, Y) high‐temperature superconductors are able to generate high magnetic fields. However, the relatively high cost of the raw materials and the low yield of the manufacturing process have impeded the development of practical applications of these materials to date. This article describes a simple, reliable, and economical method of recycling failed bulk (RE)‐Ba‐Cu‐O (RE: Sm, Gd, Y) samples. Sixty‐four failed bulk samples, with diameters up to 31 mm, were recycled with a yield of 90%. The key innovation in this recycling process involves reintroducing the liquid phase into the melt process, which is normally lost during the primary peritectic processing of these materials. This enables the direct re‐growth of failed samples from solid form without the need for re‐grinding into powder. We also demonstrate that the superconducting performance and microstructure of the recycled samples is similar to that of the primary grown samples.</p> </abstract>