Effect of Aluminium Oxide addition on physical and mechanical properties of YBCO superconductor prepared by co-precipitation method

The effect of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) addition on the physical and mechanical properties of yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) superconductor prepared by coprecipitation method were studied. In this study, YBCO containing different weight percentage of aluminium oxide at x = 0.00, 0.20, 0.50, 0.70 and 1.00 wt% were prepared to study the physical and mechanical property. The samples YBCO A and B were calcinated at 720 °C and sintered at 920 °C for 12 h. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the crystalline structure of the samples YBCO A and B. Morphology of the samples were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Resistance measurement of samples were measured by digital multimeter and compression testing was carried out to study the mechanical property of YBCO added with different weight of Al2O3. XRD pattern showed the different phase and peaks in YBCO A with 0.20 wt% to 0.70 wt% of Al2O3 added. Y2 BaCuO5 was found in YBCO A with 1.00 wt% of aluminium oxide addition. The analysis XRD of YBCO B shown orthorhombic structure to tetragonal when 1.00 wt% of Al2O3 added and changed to Y Ba2Cu3O6 and Y Ba2Cu3O6.5. Al3+ was form bonding to the site of yttrium. The lattice parameters were a= 3.821 Å, b=3.885 Å and c= 11.676 Å. In SEM microstructure of sample YBCO A and B were found agglomeration start to occur when the weight percentage of 0.50 wt% to 1.00 wt% Al2O3 added. The porosity in grain boundary was reduced and filled with Al2O3. The resistance of the sample showed increasing when the amount of Al2O3 increased due to impurities added. The resistance value was 246.7 Ω in YBCO A with 1.00 wt% of Al2O3 and 277.3 Ω in sample B. YBCO more brittle when the weight percentage of Al2O3 increased from 0.50 wt% to 1.00 wt%. Higher addition of Al2O3 decreased the Young’s modulus of compression. It also caused by different in diameter and thickness of the pellet.