Structure formation in yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fibers

Polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG, Y3Al5O12) fibers were prepared from aqueous solutions of aluminum chlorohydrate and yttrium chloride. Fiber processing was accomplished via dry spinning. Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used as spinning aid. Polycrystalline YAG fibers were obtained by pyrolysis of the green fibers followed by sintering at defined temperatures in air. Ceramic fibers were 9–16 μm in diameter. Differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (DSC/TGA-MS) showed an exothermic peak at 920 °C assigned to the crystallization of YAG and an overall ceramic yield of 38% at 1400 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that phase-pure YAG can be obtained at 1600 °C after intermediate formation of Y2O3 and monoclinic yttrium aluminum oxide (YAM, Y4Al2O9) phases.