Combination of MCA and SHS for Material Synthesis

The combination of mechano-chemical activation (MCA)and Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) has widened the technical possibilities for both methods. For YBCO systems the investigation showed that a short-term MCA of initial powders before SHS leads to single-phase and ultra-fine products. A new technique for preparation ultra-fine high-temperature superconductors (HTS) of YBCO composition with a grain size d <1m is developed using combination of MCA and SHS. The specific feature of the technique is formation of the $YBa_2Cu_3O_7-$ 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 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.