Processing, Microstructure, and Strength of Alumina–YAG Eutectic Polycrystals

Dense polycrystalline eutectics of alumina and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) were fabricated by hot-pressing powders of pulverized arc-melted buttons at homologous temperatures of 0.9 T _eu–0.93 T _eu (where T _eu is the eutectic temperature). The eutectic microstructure of the arc-melted buttons was retained after densification, although the grain boundaries were decorated with equiaxed grains of alumina and YAG ∼1–5 μm in size; possible causes for their formation have been discussed. A comparison of the measured strength of the polycrystalline eutectics (274 ± 61 MPa) with grain size and fracture toughness suggests that the strength-limiting flaws are significantly smaller than the mean grain size and larger than the mean eutectic spacing.