Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 March 2011
Starting from a glassy precursor, Bi2Sr2Ca1−xDyxCu2O8−y (for x = 0.2) was recrystallized under a 0.6 T magnetic field. After splat quenching, the samples were heated and sintered at different temperatures T1, then slowly cooled. X-ray diffraction data, sometimes showing 00l peak splitting and electron scanning microscopy pictures, were collected. The results showed that the magnetic field could orient the grains and led to a magnetically textured growth process. Secondary phases formed in the system during this process were identified by EDX analysis. The optimum T1 for texturing was found to be between 930 °C and 950 °C.