THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RADIATION DOSES ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF Bi- 2212 SUPERCONDUCTOR

Abstract

The effect of gamma irradiation on mechanical properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) superconductor ceramics was studied by exposing the superconductor with five different gamma radiation doses of 10 kGray, 20 kGray, 30 kGray, 40 kGray and 50 kGray respectively. The Bi-2212 samples were prepared via the conventional solid state reaction method. The samples were characterized using the X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). The XRD patterns for the non-irradiated and irradiated samples showed well defined peaks of which could be indexed on the basis of a Bi-2212 phase structure. Small dose of gamma radiation enhanced the mechanical properties of the materials. The phase purity, lattice parameter, surface morphology and degree of crystallinity for the non-irradiated and irradiated samples were also compared and analyzed.