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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Ceramic rods of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (2212) were directionally solidified by laser‐heated float‐zone crystal growth [1]. The microstructure of the resulting material can be controlled through variation of growth rate. The 2212 phase is Sr‐deficient, having an actual composition Bi2.5Sr2CaCu2.2Oy. At slow growth rates (0.2 cm/h), plane front growth produced highly textured samples of almost phase pure 2212, and pole figures show that the solidification front proceeds along the (200) axis of the 2212 grains. Faster growth rates produced dendritic growth and polyphase microstructures. At the fastest growth rate studied (16 cm/h), no 2212 phase was observed. Observations indicate that Bi2.5Sr2CaCu2.2Oy melts peritectically into (Sr1‐x.Cax.)14Cu24Oy and a Bi‐rich liquid.