Influence of (Nd+Y)/Al ratio on sintering behavior and optical features of Y3-xNdxAl5O12 ceramics for laser applications

In this study, Nd:YAG ceramics with different (Nd+Y)/Al ratios around the stoichiometric one ((Nd+Y)/Al = 0.6000) with high accuracy (better than 0.1%) were elaborated by solid-state reactive-sintering under vacuum. The influence of (Nd+Y)/Al ratio on sintering behavior, microstructural and optical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inOptical materials Vol. 77; pp. 264 - 272
Main Authors Bonnet, Loïck, Boulesteix, Rémy, Maître, Alexandre, Belon, Rémy, Chrétien, Lucie, Sallé, Christian
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.03.2018
Elsevier
Subjects
Chemical Sciences
Densification
Engineering Sciences
Grain growth
Laser
Material chemistry
Materials
Nd:YAG
Sintering
Transparent ceramics
Transparent ceramics
Densification
Grain growth
Nd:YAG
Sintering
Laser
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Summary:In this study, Nd:YAG ceramics with different (Nd+Y)/Al ratios around the stoichiometric one ((Nd+Y)/Al = 0.6000) with high accuracy (better than 0.1%) were elaborated by solid-state reactive-sintering under vacuum. The influence of (Nd+Y)/Al ratio on sintering behavior, microstructural and optical properties of as-obtained ceramics were systematically studied. This study shows that Al-excess strongly promotes mass transfer by diffusion, and consequently, densification and grain growth processes whereas Y-excess lead to opposite behavior. Results were interpreted by considering several parameters such as local chemical composition, intrinsic/extrinsic crystalline defects, and interactions between pores, secondary phases and grain boundaries. Finally, exact stoichiometry or Y-excess appear to be more favorable to obtain highly transparent Nd:YAG ceramics suitable for laser operation. •(Nd+Y)/Al ratio was managed with high accuracy (better than 0.1%) thanks to solid-state reactive sintering process.•Y-excess slows-down sintering kinetics of Nd:YAG ceramics and Al-excess acts on the contrary.•The most favorable sintering trajectory is observed for stoichiometric samples.•Optical properties of YAG ceramics are much less affected by Y-excess than by Al-excess.•This work shows that Y-excess is more favorable than Al-excess to manufacture highly transparent Nd:YAG ceramics.
ISSN:0925-3467
1873-1252
DOI:10.1016/j.optmat.2018.01.028