Inductive current measurements in an oriented grained YBa2Cu3Ox superconductor

The critical current of grain aligned YBa2 Cu3Ox bulk material was investigated by inductive flux profile and ac susceptibility measurements. The induced current was directed perpendicular to the a-b plane oriented grains where high values of the transport current, have been previously reported. In spite of the unfavorable geometry of the investigated shielding current, no features of granularity were observed. The results yield a uniform bulk critical current density jc of 3×104 A/cm2 at zero field and 77 K. Field and temperature dependences of this jc are discussed and compared with those in a granular Y-Ba-Cu-O material.