Orientations and seed type effect on Al2O3-YAG-ZrO2 eutectic microstructure solidified from the melt by the micro-pulling down technique

Al2O3-YAG-ZrO2 eutectic ceramic rods of 5 mm in diameter were grown by micro-pulling down technique. The seeding and the solidification rate affect microstructure, morphology, crystallography, thermal stress solidified ceramics. ternary through zirconia (111) seed had inhomogeneous irregular cellular microstructures. At stationary stable regime, microstructure spacing (λ) depends on pulling (v). Under 0.5 mm.min−1, using poly-crystal, (100), YAG, c(0001), A(1−210), M(10−10) sapphire seeds, YAG ZrO2 phases are oriented along <100> direction parallel to growth direction. X-ray diagram presents additional peaks monoclinic phase appears at 1 mm.min-1. more stressed than those eutectic, respectively.