Mechanical properties and fractographical analysis by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) of laser textured Bi(Pb)-2212 superconducting materials

Abstract

Vitreous cylinders with compositions Bi2-xPbxSr2CaCu2Oy, (x = 0 and 0.4) were prepared and used as precursors to fabricate textured bars through a Laser Floating Zone melting method (LFZ). The resulting textured cylindrical bars were annealed and were mechanically characterized through mechanical strength, σ, Young modulus, E, Vickers hardness, H, and Weibull parameters, S0 and m. The study of the mechanisms controlling the fracture process was made by means of the fractographical analysis using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM). Finally, the microstructure was determined and correlated with the mechanical properties.