Fabrication of high-T_c ceramic superconducting fibers from organometallic precursors

To produce fibers of the high-T_c superconducting oxides, an organometallic precursor of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x (1:2:3) compound was employed. Fibers were hand-drawn, cured, and pyrolyzed, then evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Defects in the fibers such as bubbles, a relatively dense outer skin, and cracks were identified and determined to have been caused by improper curing and pyrolysis procedures. Powder XRD showed that the organometallic precursor formed the 1:2:3 compound after pyrolysis, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated a ceramic yield of approximately 35%, based upon initial weight of organometallic precursor material.