Microstructure and crystallographic phase textures of the alumina-zirconia eutectics

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth 1997, Vol.171 (1), p.119-124
• Main Authors: Starostin, M.Yu, Gnesin, B.A., Yalovets, T.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0248(96)00460-5

Crystals of the Al 2O 3ZrO 2(Y 2O 3) eutectics were directionally solidified by the Stepanov (EFG) technique. Microstructure and crystallographic textures of phases in the crystals were investigated. The [0001] crystallographic orientation of the alumina matrix along the growth direction has been found to be a preferential one, independently of the seed crystal orientation. The zirconia phase demonstrated two different types of crystallites: (i) whiskers in colonies, whose preferential orientation was 〈123〉 parallel to the crystal pulling direction and which were represented by the sharp peaks on the pole figures; (ii) coarse in the intercolony spacing, whose preferential orientation was 〈110〉 parallel to the pulling direction and which was represented by more diffuse peaks. The six-fold symmetry was found in the 〈123〉 patterns of cubic ZrO 2 texture, which could only be a result of the coupled eutectic phase growth under the influence of the hexagonal alumina.