Yield strength, shear stress and toughness of YBCO samples textured by Bridgman technique

Mechanical properties of the orthorhombic phase of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (Y-123) at room temperature have been investigated at different applied loads using nanoindentation technique. The study was carried out for several monodomains on the (001) planes for textured Bridgman samples with dispersed Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) particles as pinning centers. The yield strength (σys), shear stress (τm) and toughness (KIC) of Y123/Y211composite was determined at different applied loads. First and second mechanical properties have been calculated though the Hertz equations and the last one with Lawn et al. equations. Finally, the ultra-low imprints obtained by nanoindentation have been correlated with parameters obtained by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM).