The dislocations in (Hg,Re)Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ superconducting ceramics, which had been plastically deformed at room temperature, were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy. The samples were submitted to strain levels of 8, 18 or 63% by applying uni-axial compression under a confining pressure. The dislocation densities within grains were found to range from 109 to 1012/cm2. The average grain size decreased from about 20μm, in as-grown material, to about 0.5μm in samples which were deformed at up to 63%. Evidence for (001)<100> and (001)<110> glide systems was identified by transmission electron microscopy. The dislocations comprised long straight screw segments and shorter edge parts. These features were suggested to result from high Peierls valleys along the <100> and <110> screw directions. Cross-slip, as well as the climb dissociation of <110> dislocations, occurred. The shapes of deformation-induced dislocations, their evolution during deformation and the interactions between dislocations in the (001)<110> and other glide systems were described.

Dislocations in (Hg,Re)Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ High-Temperature Superconducting Ceramics Plastically Deformed at Room Temperature. D.Eyidi, J.Rabier: Philosophical Magazine Letters, 2003, 83[11], 667-76