Highly oriented superconductor oxide ceramic platelets and process for the production thereof

A single phase superconducting oxide ceramic material in the form of highly oriented platelets, and a process for the production thereof. The process involves calcining in a non-reducing atmosphere a homogeneous mixture of stoichiometric proportions of suitable precursor materials. The calcination temperature is below the peritectic melt temperature of the superconducting material, and is at or above a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect partial melting of at least one of the precursor materials to a degree sufficient to effect diffusion of at least one of the precursor materials throughout the mixture. The calcination vessel is not wetted by melts of the precursor materials at the calcination temperature. The calcined material is then annealed in a non-reducing atmosphere. A typical material produced by the process is YBa2Cu3Ox superconducting material, at a calcination temperature of about 976 DEG -982 DEG C.