Use of Neutron Diffraction in Determining Strains in High-Temperature Superconducting Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Argonne Intense Pulsed Neutron Source and General Purpose Powder Diffractometer have been used to study high Tc metal oxide composites composed of yttrium barium copper oxide and silver. Neutron diffraction techniques were applied to composites with 15, 20 and 30% silver content by volume. We have observed that after hot pressing, the 30% Ag specimens contained both orthorhombic high Tc and tetragonal, non-superconducting phases near the center of the specimens but only tetragonal near the surface. The relationship of shifts in Bragg peaks to strains of the constituents is discussed.