Al2O3/GdAlO3 eutectic fibers of high modulus of rupture produced by the laser heated pedestal growth technique

Eutectic Al2O3/GdAlO3 composites in the form of fibers were produced by the laser heated pedestal growth technique at high pulling rates ranging from 48 to 240 mm/h. Fibers 0.8 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length, devoid of pores or cracks, were pulled in an air atmosphere without seeding or pedestal rotation. ‘‘Chinese script’’ and complex-regular microstructures were present in all the fibers. The Jackson– Hunt relationship, k2v = constant, applied very well to the eutectic Al2O3/GdAlO3 fibers. The modulus of rupture values varied from 800 to 1,780 MPa. The effects of high pulling rate, average phase spacing and modulus of rupture on the microstructure were studied.