Multiple synthesis routes to transparent ceramic lutetium aluminum garnet

Transparent ceramics may be fabricated using various material sources and processing routes. In an effort to identify key processing parameters, we explored two different particle processing methods for production of ceramic lutetium aluminum garnet doped with cerium (LuAG:Ce): flame spray pyrolysis powder and high-energy-milled commercial powders. Powders were cold-pressed and vacuum sintered prior to hot isostatic pressing. The flame spray pyrolysis route led to phase-pure transparent ceramics, while the high-energy milling route led to multi-phase, translucent ceramics.