Consolidation of Al₂O₃–GdAlo₃ eutectic powder prepared from induction-melted solid and strength at high temperatures

A eutectic powder of Al203–GdA103 was melted using a Mo crucible by induction heating. The melt was slowly solidified, resulting in a eutectic solid with coarse Al203 and GdAl03 phases. The eutectic solid was ground and sieved into 3–44 µm and 64–124 µm particles. The powders were consolidated to produce a eutectic composite by spark plasma sintering. Mechanical properties of the consolidated eutectic composite were measured at room temperature. High temperature strength was obtained at temperatures up to 1673 K. Superplastic deformation of the eutectic composite was not observed on stress–strain curves at 1673 K, but did occur in the case of a conventional composite at 1573 K.