Comparative study of grain orientation in melt-textured HTSC with different additions

The local orientation of particles embedded within melt-textured Y–Ba–Cu–O (YBCO) samples containing depleted uranium oxide, Y 2O 3, Nb 2O 5, and Y 2Ba 4CuMO x (with M = Nb, Zr) have been studied via automated electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The different morphologies of the samples are discussed based on the EBSD scans of a-growth sector areas. We conclude that the formation of small, nanoscale particles does not disturb the growth of the superconducting YBCO matrix. The presence of large, micrometre-sized particles, however, may cause severe changes in the YBCO growth morphology.