ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses progress in studying the solidification behaviour of Y123 superconducting oxide, especially non-steady-state growth. RE123 superconducting oxides solidify through a peritectic reaction between the higher temperature stable solid phase RE211 and the liquid phase, governed by solute diffusion in the liquid phase. Bulk growth of Y123 crystals was carried out by the undercooling and seeding method. To clarify the effect of the Y211 particles on the growth of Y123, volume fractions of Y211 particles were evaluated in both the Y123 solid and the liquid regions for samples quenched during solidification, using quantitative electron probe microanalysis. The Y123 crystals show non-steady-state growth behaviour. Experimental investigation of isothermal solidification of Y123 crystals shows that the Y123 growth rate decreases gradually and finally reaches zero in the later stages of growth, even at a constant growth temperature.
