| Containerless melt processing experiments have been performed on the copper oxide superconductors YBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}, NdBasb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar}, and several partial substitutions of Nd for Y utilizing aero-acoustic levitation and drop tube processing. Aero-acoustic levitation experiments were performed in air on the YBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}{dollar} compound. In these experiments, the liquidus at this composition and the solidification velocity of the peritectic transformation Y{dollar}rmsb2BaCuOsb5 + liquid rightarrow YBasb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}{dollar} were determined. Drop tube experiments were performed in 20%O{dollar}sb2{dollar}-He on YBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}{dollar} at 1650, 1720, and 1750{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C and in oxygen on YBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.9{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.l{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.8{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.2{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.7{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.3{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.5{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.5{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.3{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.7{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}, Ysb{lcub}.1{rcub}Ndsb{lcub}.9{rcub}Basb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar}, and NdBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} at temperatures of 1400-1800{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C. In oxygen experiments, the liquidus was determined between pure YBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}7-delta{rcub}{dollar} and {dollar}rm NdBasb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} and determinations of the range of solid solution of the REBa{dollar}rmsb2Cusb3Osb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} were attempted at several compositions. |
