New combinatorial chemistry approach in material science

A new combinatorial approach is proposed. It is based on the preparation of crystallized samples with a progressive composition gradient using the melting or floating zone technique. It may be applied to metallic, high refractory, and glass materials and allows the rapid elucidation phase constitution and the variation of physical properties with composition and microstructure. The approach may be applied to a broad spectrum of materials and samples may be quite smaller. Four examples are presented herein: polyphased Al-Co alloys, a single crystal of yttrium oxide codoped by Er3+ and Yb3+, and a glass sample containing SiO2-Al2O3-CaO-Na2O-K2O. This approach constitutes a good and inexpensive experimental method for exploring industrial materials and for the theorical prediction of materials of interest.