Abstract
Superconducting samples of type Y3Ba5Cu8O18 +/-delta were elaborated by using a planetary high-energy ball milling (HEBM) technique with various parameters. Phases, microstructure, and superconductivity have been examined using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrical resistivity measurements. SEM investigation shows the occurrence of nanoentities embedded into the superconducting matrix for samples prepared by a ball milling technique. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of ball milling parameters on the fluctuation-induced conductivity (FIC). The electrical resistivity versus temperature, rho(T), above T (c) was analyzed using Lawrence-Doniach (LD) and Aslamazov-Larkin (AL) models. Different fluctuation regimes indicated by short-wave fluctuation (SWF) and three-dimensional (3D), two-dimensional (2D), one-dimensional (1D), and critical region (CR) fluctuations were identified. The coherence length at zero temperature, the effective layer thickness, the critical magnetic fields, and the critical current densities are determined. The superconducting parameters strongly depend on the planetary ball milling technique, and the results are explained in relevancy to the microstructure. It was found that the achievement of a microstructure with well-dispersed nanoentities is an effective way for introducing pinning centers for enhancing critical current density and flux pinning capability of bulk Y-358.