Microstructure refinement of melt-grown Al2O3/YAG/ZrO2 eutectic composite by a new method: Melt superheating treatment

Directional solidification techniques are not suitable for preparing eutectic ceramics that possess a combination of large dimensions and fine microstructures. Herein, a traditional processing method of melt superheating was adopted to refine the microstructure, and successfully performed on Al2O3/YAG/ZrO2 bulk eutectic with an interphase spacing of 350 nm. The microstructures can be tailored by controlling the melt superheating treatment conditions. The solidification structure transitions are discussed in terms of the classical nucleation mechanism.