Evolution of operable slip systems, lattice strain fields and morphological view of Bi-2223 ceramic system with optimum NiO addition

The current work extensively reveals the influence of different nickel oxide (NiO) impurity addition levels on the morphological, microstructural, key mechanical performance, and mechanical characteristic properties of Bi1.8Pb0.4Ca2.2Sr2Cu3Oy (Bi-2223) ceramics using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Vickers micro-indentation (Hv) hardness measurements. It was observed that the addition of NiO impurity in the Bi-2223 crystal structure affected seriously the fundamental characteristic features. In the case of the optimum NiO concentration level of x = 0.1, the Bi-2223 materials exhibited the best crystallinity quality and coupling strengths between the adjacent layers, the most uniform surface view, and the densest, and the smoothest crystal structure. Similarly, the compound was noted to possess the hardest, highest mechanical strength, durable tetragonal phase, resistance toward failure by fatigue, and elastic recovery properties. Besides, it was observed that the characteristic Bi-2223 superconducting phase fraction and stabilization of the tetragonal crystal system reached the maximum level for the optimum concentration. Moreover, optimum NiO particles brought about a considerable increase in the number of operable slip systems, surface residual compressive force regions, and lattice strain fields. Correspondingly, the mobility of defects was blocked significantly depending on the preference of defects through transcrystalline regions. Additionally, optimum addition strengthened the typical indentation size effect due to the improvement of the recovery mechanism. In this regard, the NiO-added sample exhibited the least response to the applied loads. Thus, the Bi-2223 sample with the optimum NiO concentration was found to present the highest hardness parameter of 0.496 GPa, greatest elastic deformation value of 16.493 GPa, largest stiffness value of 1.044 MN/m, and smallest contact depth of 5.849 µm. On the other hand, after the optimum concentration level of x = 0.1, there appeared serious increase in problems including internal defects, impurity residues, microscopic structural problems, and connection problems between the grains. All experimental findings were theoretically supported by semi-empirical mechanical methods. To sum up, the addition of NiO particles was noticed to increase the potential application areas of Bi-2223 ceramics. [Display omitted] •The Ni1 sample showed the uniform surface appearance, the h