EUTECTIC SOLIDIFICATION IN SYSTEM AI2O3/Y3AI5O12

The eutectic solidification in the system Al2O3/Y2Al5O12 has been investigated. A Bridgman-type crystal-growing furnace was used in this investigation. A temperature gradient of 190° C/cm and growth rates which were varied between 2 and 12 cm/h were employed in the directional solidification studies. Three types of microstructure were observed depending upon the composition and the growth rate. At a growth rate of 4 cm/h and at compositions removed from the eutectic composition, a mixture of primary phase and fine eutectic dispersion was found. At growth rates between 2 and 12 cm/h at the eutectic composition, a colony type microstructure was most commonly observed. At growth rates above 4 cm/h at the eutectic composition, regions in the solidified ingot were found to have a highly oriented eutectic microstructure consisting of both rods and platelets. These eutectic microstructures indicate that coupled growth can occur in this system. The method of Sunquist and Mondolfo [15] was used to determine whether Y3Al5O12 was the first phase to nucleate at the eutectic. © 1969 Chapman and Hall.