Microstructure evolution during vacuum sintering of Tm,Ho:(Lu2/3Sc1/3)2O3 transparent ceramics

The microstructure evolution and optical properties of vacuum combined with hot isostatic pressing(HIP) sintered Tm,Ho:(Lu2/3Sc1/3)2O3 transparent ceramics were studied. The ceramics were sintered in vacuum followed by HIP to obtain Tm,Ho:(Lu2/3Sc1/3)2O3 with high transparency. Changes of microstructure and densification rate due to the vacuum sintering temperature increasing were studied from 1100°C to 1780°C. With the increase of the operating temperature, the densification rate of the ceramics presented nonlinear characteristics. The growth of the grains was remarkably accelerated at higher temperatures (above 1500°C). The in-line transmittance of Tm,Ho:(Lu2/3Sc1/3)2O3 ceramics vacuum sintered at 1780°C followed by HIP at 1700°C exceeded 81.68% at 2090 nm.

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