Processing, microstructure and transport currents of (100)/(100) and (110)/(110) domain boundaries in multi-seeded YBa2CU3Oyfabrics

Multi-domain YBa2Cu3Oy (123) superconducting fabrics with controlled domain orientations have been prepared from Y2O3 precursor cloths by multiple seeding during an infiltration and growth process. Long-length samples containing up to four domains with controlled orientations yielding the (110)/(110) and (100)/(100) junctions respectively have been produced by placing the seed crystals accordingly. The normal state resistivity and the transport currents along the domain boundaries are discussed and correlated with their microstructure. The (110)/(110) boundaries are observed to exhibit superior transport currents over the (100)/(100) boundaries due to the formation of relatively clean boundaries. The presence of boundary junctions is found to be effective in increasing the normal state resistivity of the samples. The coupling of domains rather than their crystallographic alignment is observed to be the dominant factor in deciding the final J(c) of the multi-seeded samples.