ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the primary focus will be on the processing and properties of (RE)BCO-based HTS cuprate materials. Top-seeded melt growth has emerged as an effective technique to fabricate single grains via a so-called cold-seeding approach, which will be described and the recent advancements made to this processing methodology will be outlined. The first part of the chapter will describe an alternative fabrication approach based on a top-seeded infiltration and growth (TSIG) process. The second part of the chapter will focus on the GdBCO single grain bulk superconductors fabricated by the recently developed, novel 2-step BA-TSIG process. Finally, recent reinforcement studies carried out employing metallic and SiC fibres in YBCO, in an attempt to improve the mechanical properties of the bulk single grains whilst retaining their superconducting properties, are presented. Novel experiments carried out recently on bulk superconducting materials fabricated by the TSIG-based process have been summarised.
