Highly Dense, Transparent-Al2O3 Ceramics From Ultrafine Nanoparticles Via a Standard SPS Sintering

Using discrete, ultrafine alumina, highly dense transparent (71% real in-line transmission, RIT, =640nm) ceramics were achieved with grain size as small as 260nm using standard SPS sintering. We show that use of La3+ as a dopant greatly reduces sensitivity to the sintering temperatures. Transparent alumina were achieved in a large range of sintering temperatures, 1140 degrees C<1200 degrees C, thus providing better reliability and flexibility into the fabrication of large sintered transparent ceramic bodies.