Tensile mechanical properties of (Nd,Eu,Gd)-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures

In order to investigate the mechanical properties of a recently developed high performance melt-processed (Nd,Eu,Gd)Ba₂Cu₃O_y (NEG-123) single grain bulk superconductor, tensile tests of specimens cut from the bulk have been carried out at room temperature, 293 K, and at liquid nitrogen temperature, 77 K. Tensile stress was applied in a- or b-direction. The maximum value of tensile strength and Young's modulus at 77 K, 41 MPa and 158 GPa were higher than those at 293 K, 33 MPa and 134 GPa in the NEG-123 sample with 40 mol% (Nd,Eu,Gd)₂BaCuO₅ (NEG-211) secondary phase particles, 0.5 wt% Pt and 10 wt% Ag₂O. Tensile strength of the sample added 30 mol% NEG-211 and the sample added 30 mol% Gd₂BaCuO_y instead of 40 mol% NEG-211 that was added to the sample described above have also been investigated.