Processing and thermoluminescent response of porous biomorphic dysprosium doped yttrium disilicate burner

• Bio-prototyping of yttrium disilicate burner is reported.
• The effect of Dy3+ on thermoluminescent response of yttrium disilicate is discussed.
• Radiant efficiency of the biomorphic yttrium disilicate burner is evaluated.

The present study reports a process to develop a porous biomorphic dysprosium doped yttrium disilicate burner from biotemplating of Luffa Cylindrica and its thermoluminescent response is evaluated. Processing parameters such as rheological behavior of the ceramic suspensions, surface chemistry of the nanoparticles, microstructure, thermal stability of the biotemplating, as well as thermoluminescent response of the nanoparticles, were investigated. Ceramic suspensions prepared at pH 10 from tetramethylammonium hydroxide, 2 wt% polyacrylic ammonium salt and 0.4 wt% carboxymethylcellulose exhibited shear thinning behavior, suitable apparent viscosity for replica method and porous microstructure as sintered. Promising thermoluminescent result of the yttrium disilicate nanoparticles was observed at 580 nm and at 180 °C. The burner prototype sintered at 1500 °C for 7 h exhibited reticulated shape similar to biotemplating, porous microstructure with mean grain size around 1 μm, no apparent cracks, pycnometric density of 3.21 g cm−3 (80% of theoretical density; 4.04 g cm−3) and radiant efficiency of 13%. These results show that controlling stability of nano particles leads to form a microstructure with controlled grain size and porous distribution, which enhances porous burner efficiency.