Shrinkage features, microstructure evolution and properties of Gd2O3-MgO optical composite ceramics with Zr as phase stabilizer

Zhang, Buhao; Chen, Hetuo; Zhu, Qiangqiang; Yin, Zhaomin; Liu, Peng; Zhang, Junyu; Liu, Yutao; Tian, Run; Mao, Xiaojian; Zhang, Jian; Wang, Shiwei

Abstract

A novel composite ceramic, composed of equal-volumetric Zr-stabilized Gd2O3 and MgO phases, was prepared to be transparent in mid-wave infrared range. Zr stabilized Gd2O3 is proved to have a lower lattice parameter (10.7516Å) using XRD refinement. Pressureless sintering behavior of Gd2O3-MgO with/without 2at.% Zr-doping (naming ZGM and GM) was studied via the real-time observation technique. The shrinkage of ZGM green body proceeds steadily up to 1400°C while that of the undoped one shrinks sharply at 1250°C due to Gd2O3 phase transition. The segregation of Zr element along the grain boundaries of Zr-Gd2O3 creates a synergized effect on the grain refinement with pinning effect. Dense ZGM ceramics exhibit superior transmittance of 78.3%‐85.6% at 3-5 μm, which show good consistency with the calculated values. The refractive index of Zr- Gd2O3 varies from 1.87 at 3 μm to 1.80 at 5 μm, which is smaller than those of monoclinic Gd2O3.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 17, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2024
• Journal: Journal of the European Ceramic Society
• Print ISSN: 0955-2219
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-619X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 2115-2124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2022.12.058
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/15707198
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955221922010329?via%3Dihub