Feature articleOptical, mechanical and fractographic response of transparent alumina ceramics on erbium doping

Alumina ceramics found their utilisation in many applications which can be further extend by attaining functional properties; in our case the transparency obtained through precise processing and photoluminescence due to erbium (Er) doping. In order to examine the optical, mechanical and fractographic response of transparent alumina on Er doping, slip casted samples containing 0-0.15 at.% of erbium nano-oxide were pre-sintered by two-step sintering regime and then hot isostatically pressed. Prepared samples exhibited fully dense submicron microstructure and corresponding high transparency (RIT up to 60%). Positive influence of doping on the Vickers hardness resulted in values up to 27 GPa (at 10 N load). Moreover, the comparison of the Vickers hardness determined at different loadings with literature data showed that the Er doped alumina is one of the hardest material in this category. The samples were characterised also in terms of fracture toughness and fractographic behaviour.