In-situ laser synthesis of Nd-Al-O coatings: the role of sublattice cations in eutectic formation

Neodymium aluminate coatings have been prepared in-situ by the laser zone melting (LZM) method, using a CO₂ SLAB-type laser emitting at 10.6 µm. Polycrystalline Al₂O₃ commercial plates have been used as substrates, and coatings were prepared from the corresponding mixtures of powdered neodymium and aluminium oxides as starting materials. Microstructure, studied by SEM and phase composition, studied by XRD, proved the in-situ formation of a NdAlO₃/NdAl₁₁O₁₈ eutectic. As a result, a well integrated composite coating was formed. Nanoindentation tests are consistent with excellent integration between coating and substrate. Structural similarities between the eutectic components within the coating, as well as between these and the substrate, are consistent with the crystallographic concepts proposed by Vegas (Ramos-Gallardo & Vegas, 1997), where cation sub-arrays play an important role governing metal oxide structures. These structure sublattices are suggested as the driving force behind eutectic oxide formation.