ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOLVENT EFFECTS ON YTTRIUM BARIUM CUPRATE (Y1Ba2Cu3Ox)
Abstract
Water is shown to have a highly detrimental effect on powders of the yttrium barium cuprate (Y1Ba2Cu3Ox) superconducting compound. The effect is particularly pronounced in the case of immersion in water, in which hydroxide corrosion products are rapidly produced. The superconducting material appears to be completely unstable in the presence of strong acids and bases. In addition to chemical reactions with the powders, the presence of humidity appears to promote slow crack growth in the material. Powders of the Y1Ba2Cu3Ox compound are observed to undergo surface reduction at 100°C in the presence of certain organic solvents. The powder can be regenerated by annealing in oxygen. No such effect was observed upon the removal of organic solvents by evaporation at room temperature. 1987 The American Ceramic Society