Combination of Mechano-chemical Activation and SHS for HTS Material Synthesis

The combination of mechano-chemical activation and Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) has widened the possibilities for both methods. For YBCO systems the investigation showed that a short-term mechano-chemical activation of initial powders before SHS leads to single-phase and ultra-fine products. A new technique for preparation ultra-fine high-temperature superconductors of YBCO composition with a grain size d ＜1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ is developed. The specific feature of the technique is formation of the YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-{\delta}}$ crystalline lattice directly from an X-ray amorphous state arising as a result of mechanical activation of the original oxide mixture. The technique allows the stage of formation of any intermediate reaction products to be ruled out. X-ray and magnetic studies of ultra-fine high temperature superconductors (HTS) are carried out. Dimension effects associated with the microstructure peculiarities are revealed. A considerable enhancement of inter-grain critical currents is found to take place in the ultra-fine samples.fine samples.