A New Method of HTS Material Synthesis by Combination of MCA and SHS

The combination of methane-chemical activation and Self-propagating High-temperature synthesis (SHS) has widened the possibilities for both methods. For YBCO systems the investigation showed that a short-term mechano-chemical activation of initial powders before SHS leads to single-phase and ultra-fine products. A new technique for preparation ultra-fine high-temperature superconductors of YBCO composition with a grain size d < $1{\mu}m$ is developed. The specific feature of the technique is formation of the $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ crystalline lattice directly from an X-ray amorphous state arising as a result of mechanical activation of the original oxide mixture. The technique allows the stage of formation of any intermediate reaction products to be ruled out. X-ray and magnetic studies of ultra-fine high temperature superconductors (HTS) are carried out. Dimension effects associated with the microstructure peculiarities are revealed. A considerable enhancement of inter-grain critical currents is found to take place in the ultra-fine samples investigated.