Hot isostatic pressing of optically active Nd:YAG powders doped by a colloidal processing route

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1489 - 1494
• Main Authors: Suárez, M., Fernández, A., Menéndez, J.L., Nygren, M., Torrecillas, R., Zhao, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2010
• Subjects: Chemistry; Colloidal route; Hot isostatic press; Inorganic chemistry; Kemi; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; Nd:YAG; Oorganisk kemi; Transparent ceramics; Transparent ceramics; Nd:YAG; Colloidal route; Hot isostatic press
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2009.12.006

In this work, 1
at.% Nd doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Y
3Al
5O
12 (YAG) nano-sized powder prepared by colloidal route was investigated thoroughly concerning agglomeration control and preparation of transparent ceramic by post-HIP. Electrostatic and mechanical deagglomeration process followed by freeze-drying turned out to be an effective method to alleviate agglomeration, yielding a powder with a homogeneous particle size distribution around 100
nm. Transparent Nd:YAG ceramic samples have been successfully prepared by post-HIP without the aid of sintering additives. The optical properties varied markedly with the sintering and hot isostatic pressing conditions used. In-line transmittance values of 56% at 680
nm and close to 80% in the infrared region were recorded.