Influence of hot isostatic pressing on sintering trajectory and optical properties of transparent Nd:YAG ceramics

Lucie Chretien (1) , Loïck Bonnet (1) , Rémy Boulesteix (1) , Alexandre Maitre (1) , Christian Sallé (2) , Alain Brenier (3)

1 SPCTS-AXE1 - Axe 1 : procédés céramiques
2 CILAS - Compagnie industrielle des lasers
3 ILM - Institut Lumière Matière [Villeurbanne]

Controlling residual amounts of defects in transparent ceramics is a major challenge for laser applications. This study was focused on the influence of post-sintering treatment by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) on microstructural evolution during reaction–sintering of Nd:YAG ceramics. This work shows that the pores–grain boundary separation phenomenon can be avoided thanks to suitable post-HIP treatment. As a result, this study shows that fully dense and highly transparent Nd:YAG ceramics with microsized grain can be manufactured by HIP technology. Finally, laser oscillation was demonstrated and laser slope efficiency appears to be enhanced with HIP treatment.

Mots clés: Ceramics; Transparent HIP; Nd:YAG; Porosity Laser

Domaines: Chimie; Matériaux; Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]; Matériaux

Lucie Chretien, Loïck Bonnet, Rémy Boulesteix, Alexandre Maitre, Christian Sallé, et al.. Influence of hot isostatic pressing on sintering trajectory and optical properties of transparent Nd:YAG ceramics. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2016, 36 (8), pp.2035 - 2042. ⟨10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2016.02.021⟩. ⟨hal-01875278⟩