Abstract: BaCuO.sub.2.5 containing precursors for superconducting materials and process for making shaped superconductor articles therefrom.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a precursor of a superconductor containing atoms of oxygen, atoms of copper and atoms of at least two other metals and sufficient atoms of oxygen so that up to, but no more than, one atom of copper is in the trivalent state, in which method there are blended together, in finely divided particulate state, components containing atoms of the metals in the desired proportion with at least one of the components containing oxygen in an amount above that which would put more than one atom of copper into the trivalent state and thereafter milling the components together in a high energy system to a maximum particle size of about 5 microns for at least 99 weight percent of the blend.

Abstract: A process for removing copper from ferrous or other metal scrap in which the scrap is contacted with a polyvalent metal sulfide slag in the presence of an excess of copper-sulfide forming additive to convert the copper to copper sulfide which is extracted into the slag to provide a ratio of copper in the slag to copper in the metal scrap of at least about 10.