Fabrication of transparent ScSZ ceramics at low temperature

Laser synthesized nanometer-sized ZrO2 powders stabilized with Sc2O3 (ScSZ) were used to prepare transparent ceramics. ScSZ green bodies with relative density 53% were prepared by magnetic pulse pressing at 1.2 GPa. These green bodies were sintered in the air with heating rate 5 °C/min to 1150 °C and 0 min exposure at the temperature. 15.7 ScSZ (15.7 mol% Sc2O3 and 84.3 mol% ZrO2) ceramics with relative density higher than 99.7% and grain size about 0.41 μm were fabricated. In-line transmittance of the ceramics (diameter 26 mm, thickness 1 mm) reaches 72.4% @1100 nm.

► Transparent Sc2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (ScSZ) ceramics were fabricated from nanopowder.
► Laser synthesized ScSZ nanopowder was compacted with magnetic pulse pressing.
► The ceramics were sintered in air at 1150 °C.
► Transparency of the ceramics was 72.4% @1100 nm.