Abstract
The microstructural features of the (Nd,Eu,Gd)Ba 2Cu 3O 7 (NEG) bulks were studied by optical microscopy in polarized light. The quantitative microstructural data were obtained using the image processing system, Image-Pro Plus. Unlike YBa 2Cu 3O y melt-processed bulks, the NEG bulk superconductors prepared by oxygen-controlled-melt-growth process do not exhibit macroscopic 211 secondary-phase inhomogeneity due to 211 particle pushing. The lowering of interface energy and increase of melt viscosity are suggested to be responsible for the essential suppression of 211 pushing in NEG melt-grown bulks. This result opens a way to achieve a homogeneous distribution of the current densities in melt-grown bulk superconductors.
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