Effect of mechanical grinding on the transport critical current density and the flux pinning force of a YBa 2Cu 3O yAg composite superconductor

Abstract

The effect of mechanical grinding (MG) on the physical properties, especially the transport critical current density J c and the global pinning force F p, of a YBa 2Cu 3O y Ag composite superconductor was examined. J c and F p increase with the addition of Ag. J c of the samples not exposed to MG treatment (no-MG-sample) shows a maximum value at about 4 wt.% Ag, while that of the samples which are exposed to MG treatment (MG-sample) is almost constant, independent of Ag content. F p of the MG-sample is larger than that of the no- MG-sample. The density of the grain boundary and the configuration of Ag in the samples seem to be much affected by MG treatment.