Dissolution of seed crystals during top-seeded melt growth of

During top-seeded melt growth processing of (Y123), dissolution of (Sm123) seed crystals was observed at temperatures below the melting point of the seed material. The dissolution was dependent on factors such as the seeding method (cold seeding or hot seeding), the holding temperature and the composition of the seed and compact. Applying the hot seeding method, lowering the seeding temperature and using (Sm211) excessive Sm123 seed and (Y211) excessive Y123 compact decreased the dissolution rate of the seed crystal, resulting in a well-grown Y123 single crystal. The dissolution behaviour of the Sm123 seed was explained in terms of the solubility of samarium in the liquid and the dissolution kinetics at the seed/liquid interfaces.