A novel batch-scale fabrication method for hundred-micron YAG transparent ceramic fibers

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 43; no. 13; pp. 5616 - 5625
• Main Authors: Zhu, Lv, Zhang, Le, Liu, Mingyuan, Chen, Guannan, Cao, Yifei, Wei, Cong, Zhou, Chunming, Sun, Bingheng, Shao, Cen, Kang, Jian, Chen, Hao, Yang, Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2023
• Subjects: Gelcasting; Mechanical strength; Mold; Transparency; YAG ceramic fibers; YAG ceramic fibers; Transparency; Gelcasting; Mechanical strength; Mold
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2023.05.029

YAG ceramic fiber is the preferred material for the gain medium of the new generation fiber laser. However, the fabrication of hundred-micron and defect-free YAG ceramic fibers is still the primary challenge. In this paper, YAG ceramic fibers with the diameter of 147 µm and length of 113 mm were successfully batch fabricated by the combination of gelcasting and mold design, and the diameter fluctuation rate was only 1.4%. The solid loading of the slurries (46–54 vol%) were systematically investigated to achieve high density and net-shape forming of green fibers. It was found that the YAG ceramic fiber was highly transparent with the optimized solid loading of 52 vol%, and the transmittance of the YAG ceramic (2 mm thick) at 800 nm was 82.6%. Its bending strength was as high as 1124 ± 86 MPa. The ideas and methods of this study will promote the development of gelcasting in the field of hundred-micron ceramic fibers.