Fabrication of transparent Y2O3 ceramics by two-step spark plasma sintering

Transparent Y2O3 ceramics were successfully fabricated by spark plasma sintering applying a two-step pressure and heating profile. Through the shrinkage curve of the single-step SPS profile, it was confirmed that shrinkage occurred at 800 degrees C-1250 degrees C, and it was selected as the two-step pressure profile. After the first-step SPS stage at 1250 degrees C, the second-step SPS stage, which had the highest real in-line transmittance, was completed at 1500 degrees C. The two-step SPS profile improved the shrinkage behavior and was able to achieve sufficient densification without excessive coarsening. As a result, the normalized real in-line transmittance to 1 mm was 80.6% at 1100 nm, which is close to the theoretical transmittance of 81.6%. The two-step pressure and heating profile in the SPS process was a significant advantage in manufacturing ceramics that were transparent and had sufficient densification.

Automated summary

The transparent Y2O3 ceramics were fabricated using a two-step pressure and heating profile, which improved shrinkage behavior and achieved sufficient density without excessive coarsening. As a result, the normalized real in-line transmittance was 80.6% at 1100 nm, close to the theoretical transmittance of 81.6%. The two-step SPS profile proved to be advantageous in manufacturing ceramics with transparency and densification.