Behavior of Superconducting Ceramic-Polymer Composite

Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was used to improve the flexural properties of the high temperature superconducting ceramics (YBa 2Cu3O7-x). The organic polymer was impregnated into the porous ceramic at room temperature. The flexural properties were evaluated using disk specimens. The interaction between the PMMA and ceramic was studied using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Poly (methyl methacrylate) polymer increased the flexural strength of the superconducting ceramic without affecting its electrical properties. Flexural strength relationships have been developed for the superconducting ceramic with and without polymer. Performance of the ceramic-polymer composite was also evaluated by thermocycling between 77k and 300k.