The Effect of Composition on the Optical Properties and Hardness of Transparent Al-rich MgO.nAl sub(2)O sub(3) Spinel Ceramics

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society 2016-03, Vol.99 (3), p.946-953
• Main Authors: Waetzig, Katja, Krell, Andreas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aluminum oxide; Ceramics; Coarsening; Grains; Hardness; Presintering; Spinel
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.14032

The study investigates the transmittance and hardness of Al-rich spinel ceramics (MgO.nAl sub(2)O sub(3), 1 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 2.5) prepared by reaction air sintering (up to closed porosity) of different ratios of fine and coarse-grained commercial Al sub(2)O sub(3) and MgO raw powders completed by subsequent hot isostatic pressing (HiP). Different compositions give rise to a wide range of presintering temperatures. With starting compositions 1 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 1.5, presintering results in a formation of single-phase spinel, in which the excess of Al is solved. With higher Al contents (n > 1.5), however, a biphasic ceramic of stoichiometric MgAl sub(2)O sub(4) and residual alumina is formed first. This excess alumina is incorporated into the spinel lattice during the final HiP at a temperature of 1750 degree C. Single-phase, highly transparent spinel is obtained by increasing the Al-content up to n = 2.5, which gives about 85% in-line transmittance in the visible range of light and about 63% at a UV wavelength of 200 nm. Whereas the optical properties can be improved, the hardness (HV1) slightly decreases with increasing Al content. Depending on the raw powders, the hardness of samples prepared by finer powders tend to higher values enabled by the development of a bimodal microstructure with a finer grain fraction ( less than or equal to 2 mu m) between coarser grains ( less than or equal to 156 mu m). In contrast, samples made of coarser powders need higher sintering temperatures and exhibit, then, a monomodal microstructure of very large grains ( less than or equal to 622 mu m) only.