Northeastern University

Robert S Markiewicz

Bill C Giessen

Thomas R Gilbert

Bala Maheswaran

Feng Chen

A process for the oxygenation of ceramic high T.sub.c superconductors is disclosed. The superconductor is formed from a sintered powdered ceramic. Microchannels are formed in the ceramic material by embedding in the powder a plurality of wires or fibers formed of a material which is thermally removable during the sintering process to leave thin, continuous, tubular channels. After sintering, the ceramic is exposed to oxygen in a high temperature, high pressure environment. The microchannels aid in the transport of oxygen into the interior of the material by providing passages along which the oxygen travels prior to diffusing into the material. The lengths of the diffusion paths in the material are thereby greatly shortened. In another embodiment, the channels are formed after sintering and prior to oxygenation by drilling, punching, or etching.

Process for oxygenation of ceramic high T.sub.c superconductors

A method of processing polycrystalline material by performing multi-axis crystal alignment utilizing anisotropies in the crystalline structure including the step of providing a polycrystalline material in a fluid suspension or malleable form having a magnetic moment. An external force to which the material is reactive is applied to align the individual crystals along a first axis. A magnetic field is applied to orient the magnetic moment of the crystals along a second axis, transverse to the first axis. The crystalline material may have a magnetic moment associated with a rare earth element of the material.

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Lexington, MA, United States of America

Robert S Markiewicz