Crystal growth method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds

Claim 2

A crystallization method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds, comprising the step of: (a) providing a powdered mixture of Y, Ba, Cu and O containing materials of at least reagent grade purity; (b) pressing said mixture into a pellet; (c) suspending said pellet on a support, said pellet having a relatively minor area thereof in contact with said support; (d) raising the temperature of a portion of said pellet to the melting point thereof; and (e) cooling said pellet.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, comprising the further step of: (a) sintering said pellet prior to said partial melting.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein: (a) said pellet is supported on an end of an alumina cylinder.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein: (a) said pellet is supported on a corrugated platinum sheet.

Claim 6

A crystallization method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a powdered mixture of Y, Ba, Cu and O containing materials of at least reagent grade purity; (b) pressing said mixture into a pellet; (c) suspending said pellet on a support, said pellet having a relatively minor area thereof in contact with said support; (d) raising the temperature of a portion of said pellet to the melting point thereof; (e) inserting a wedge into said partially molten pellet; and (f) cooling said pellet.

Claim 7

A crystallization method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a powdered mixture of Y, Ba, Cu and O containing materials of at least reagent grade purity; (b) pressing said mixture into a pellet; (c) suspending said pellet on a support, said pellet having a relatively minor area thereof in contact with said support; (d) raising the temperature of a portion of said pellet to the melting point thereof; (e) inserting a wedge into said partially molten pellet; and (f) cooling said pellet.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, comprising the further steps of: (a) after said sintering, grinding said pellet into a powder; (b) pressing said powder to reform said pellet; and (c) sintering said pellet prior to said partial melting.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 wherein said wedge is platinum.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 wherein said wedge is about a 60 degree angle wedge.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a wedge into said partially molten pellet; and (b) cooling and withdrawing said wedge to pull crystals of Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds.

Claim 12

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a substrate into said partially molten pellet; and (b) cooling said substrate to epitaxially grow crystals of Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds on said substrate.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7 wherein said wedge is about a 60 degree angle wedge.

Claim 14

A crystallization method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a powdered mixture of Y, Ba, Cu, and O containing materials of at least reagent grade purity in a crucible for skull melting; (b) raising the temperature of said mixture to melt a portion of said pellet excluding a boundary layer of said pellet contacting said crucible; (c) inserting a wedge into the molten portion of said mixture; and (d) cooling and withdrawing said wedge to pull crystals of a Y-Ba-Cu-O compound from said molten portion of said mixture.

Claim 15

A crystallization method for Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a powdered mixture of Y, Ba, Cu, and O containing materials of at least reagent grade purity in a crucible for skull melting; (b) raising the temperature of said mixture to melt a portion of said pellet excluding a boundary layer of said pellet contacting said crucible; (c) inserting a wedge into the molten portion of said mixture; and (d) cooling and withdrawing said wedge to pull crystals of a Y-Ba-Cu-O compound from said molten portion of said mixture.