In-situ monitoring of the eutectic and peritectic reactions in NdBCO prepared by oxygen controlled melt growth process by measuring the changes in p(O2)

A new, simple method for in situ monitoring of peritectic decomposition and recombination temperatures of NdBCO superconductor by measuring the change in the oxygen partial pressure, p(O-2) is described. The NdBCO system is usually prepared by the oxygen controlled melt growth process to achieve high transition temperature, T-c and sharp superconducting transition. The present technique is based on monitoring the release or uptake of oxygen accompanying the decomposition or recombination of the NdBCO peritectic reactions in the processing furnace. The eutectic temperature of BaCuO2-CuO was also detected by this technique. DTA and TGA were used simultaneously with the change in the oxygen partial pressure, p(O-2), to confirm the change in p(O-2) at the eutectic: and peritectic reaction temperatures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.