Effect of Additive on Microstructure of Transparent YAG Ceramics

摘要

Transparent YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reaction method. Effect of additive (tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS) on microstructure of YAG ceramics was investigated. If the addition of TEOS is more than 3% (mass fraction), large amount of liquid phase can be yielded at grain boundaries, resulting in the formation of second phase particles at grain boundaries. If the addition is less than 0.05% (mass fraction), pores are entrapped in the grains. The suitable amount is 0.5% (mass fraction). A fully transparent YAG ceramic was fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1700 ℃ for 5 h. Optical transmittance of the YAG ceramic is 63% in the visible light wavelengths and 70% in the infrared wavelengths.