Sub-micron grained highly transparent sesquioxide ceramics: Synthesis, processing, and properties

Abstract

Transparent sesquioxide ceramics, e.g. Y 2 O 3 and Sc 2 O 3 are being developed as alternatives to yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) for high-power solid-state laser systems. In this work, we present the synthesis of these sesquioxide nanopowders by precipitation techniques and the subsequent processing of these nanopowders into sub-micron transparent ceramics using a modifying two-step sintering approach. These transparent ceramics exhibited equivalent transparency to that of analogous single crystals. The microhardness and fracture toughness of the modified two-step sintered ceramic exceeded those of conventionally sintered ceramic by 25% and 70%, respectively. © 2011 SPIE.