Compressive properties of the unidirectionally solidified Sb-Ge eutectic

The structure and compressive properties of the faceted/faceted Sb-Ge eutectic, unidirectionally solidified over a wide range of growth rates, have been examined and compared with those of the faceted/non-faceted Al-Si and Zn-Ge eutectics. The UCS of the Sb-Ge eutectic was found to be independent of the scale of the microstructure. It is considered that this behaviour is the result of the presence of a brittle matrix and poor matrix/second phase coherence.