Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor having a composition expressed by formula La.sub.2-X Sr.sub.X CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.6 (0<X.ltoreq.0.6), comprising the steps of: preliminarily burning a raw powder having a predetermined composition, and sintering the powder to obtain a sintered body; and subjecting the sintered body to hot isostatic pressing at a temperature falling within a range of from 940.degree.-1600.degree. C. under total pressure of 10 MPa or more and oxygen partial pressure of 2 MPa or more. By virtue of the step of subjecting the sintered body to hot isostatic pressing, a superconductor can be manufactured at a temperature and under a pressure within respective wide ranges. Further, the composition of the superconductor can be selected within a wide range of 0<X.ltoreq.0.6. Moreover, the superconductor can be manufactured by performing quenching after the hot isostatic pressing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a layered copper oxide as an insulator for superconductor or as a superconductor, which has a chemical composition represented by the formula of (R,Ce).sub.3 Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (M,Cu)O.sub.11, wherein R is a rare earth element other than Ce and M is one or both of Pb and T1, and has a crystal structure comprising a (M,Cu)Sr.sub.2 (R,Ce)Cu.sub.2 O.sub.7 ; unit of a TlBa.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.7 (1-2-1-2)-type structure and a [(R,Ce)O.sub.2 ].sub.2 unit of a fluorite-type structure alternately put on each other, or a chemical composition represented by the formula of (R,Ce).sub.3 Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (M,Cu)O.sub.10+z, wherein R is a rare earth element other than Ce, M is one or both of Pb or Tl, and has a crystal structure comprising a (R,Ce)Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (Cu,M)O.sub.6+z unit of a YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.3 O.sub.6+.delta. -type structure and a [(R,Ce)O.sub.2 ].sub.2 unit of a fluorite-type structure alternately put on each other, wherein z is in the range of 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor which has a composition expressed by the following general formula and whose crystal structure is 1222-phase structure.Pb.sub.a (M.sub.1-x-y Ce.sub.x Sr.sub.y).sub.4 Cu.sub.3-a O.sub.z (I)(where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and a, x, y, and z denote the numbers which satisfy 0.3.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.7, 0<x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.3.ltoreq.y<0.5, 8.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.9.5, respectively). A Pb-based Cu oxide superconductor manufacturing method comprising the steps of mixing powders of raw materials containing at least Pb, Sr, Ce, M (where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu groups) and Cu in the proportion to have the composition shown in the general formula (I) above, optionally forming the mixed powder into a shape body, and firing the obtained powder mixture or the shape body in the temperature range of 900.degree.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor having the following formula:Pb.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.1-p Ln.sub.p Cu.sub.3 O.sub.q orPb.sub.1-x Cu.sub.x Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.1-y Ln.sub.y Cu.sub.2 O.sub.zwherein Ln represents a rare earth element, p is 0.3-0.7, q is 7.8-8.2, x is 0.2-0.5, y is 0.3-0.7 and z is 6.8-7.2 is prepared using a coprecipitation method. An acetic acid solution of carbonates, acetates or nitrates of Pb, Sr, Ca, Cu and Ln is mixed with an aqueous solution of oxalic or tartaric acid, or a lower alkyl ester thereof. The mixture is reacted to precipitate the Pb, Sr, Ca, Cu and Ln as oxalates or tartarates and the precipitates are dried and sintered to obtain the oxide superconductor.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor comprises a composition represented by the composition formula: (Nd.sub.x --Ce.sub.y --L.sub.z).sub.2 CuO.sub.4-d (wherein L is an element selected from Ca and Mg, and x+y+z=1). The compositions of Nd, Ce and L of the oxide superconductor corresponds to a point falling inside an area of Nd--Ce--L ternary diagram surrounded by straight lines (A-B), (B-C), (C-D) and (D-A) connecting point (A) with point (B), point (B) with point (C), point (C) with point (D) and point (D) with point (A), respectively, the points (A), (B), (C) and (D) being points (x=1, y=0, z=0), (x=0.4, y=0.6, z=0), (x=0.4, y=0.3, z=0.3) and (x=0.1, y=0, z=0.9), respectively, in the Nd--Ce--L ternary diagram. Above-described Nd--Ce--L--Cu--O oxides can exhibit superconductivity within a wide range of composition when heat-treated in an atmosphere of nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide superconductor which has a relatively high transition temperature T.sub.c. This superconductor has the chemical formula (R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-z wherein R is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Tm, Yb and Lu, x is with in the range of 0.1.ltoreq..times.0.5, y is within the range of 0.1.ltoreq. y .ltoreq.0.4 and z is within the range of 0.05 .ltoreq. z .ltoreq.(x/2+0.5). The invention further provides a method for producing the oxide superconductor which comprises firing a composition of the formula (R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-z wherein R is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Tm, Yb and Lu, x is within the range of 0.1 .ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.5 and y is within the range of 0.1 .ltoreq.y .ltoreq.0.4 at a temperature of from 750.degree. C. to the melting temperature of the composition under an oxygen partial pressure P(O.sub.

Abstract: A superconducting material is disclosed which includes oxides of metals having the following composition:(Pb.sub.1-z Cu.sub.z) ((Sr.sub.1-y Ba.sub.y).sub.1-v Ca.sub.v).sub.2 (A.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)Cu.sub.2wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, Yb and mixtures of at least one of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er and Yb with at least one of Tb, Tm and Lu, x, y, v and z are numbers satisfying the following conditions:0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4,0.1.ltoreq.y<0.7,0.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.0.2x, and2y-0.4.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.2y+0.2with the proviso that 0.6-x.ltoreq.z<1.0 when 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.2 and that 0.4.ltoreq.z<1.0 when 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4. The superconducting material is produced by providing a blend of compounds of the metals in the metal oxides, and heating the blend at an oxygen partial pressure P of at least 0.001 atm and temperature of (860+40logP) .degree.C. to (1060+40logP) .degree.C.

Abstract: A superconductive material is disclosed which has the following composition:(R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y La.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8wherein R is at least one element selected from Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, x is a number in the range of 0-0.3 and y is a number in the range of 0.001-0.3 with the proviso that y is not greater than 0.2 when x is not 0.

Abstract: A method for producing an oxide superconductor formed according to a chemical composition formula (R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8 and having a transition temperature of 77K or above, comprising the step of causing a reaction between (R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-z and a Cu material such as CuO, wherein R stands for one or more rare earth elements selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb, and wherein 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.5, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1. The advantage of this production method is that this production method does not require a hot static pressing process which takes a long time.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a multielement sintered material is provided, more particularly an appartus of the automated type which weighs and mixes predetermined amounts of powdery elements, molds the mixed elements and then sinters them.