Unique mechanical properties of nano-grained YAG transparent ceramics compared with coarse-grained partners

• The nano-grained Y3Al5O12 transparent ceramics were prepared by using high pressure technique.
• Nano-grained Y3Al5O12 transparent ceramics were studied by nanoindentation.
• Nano-grained Y3Al5O12 transparent ceramics have a greater fracture toughness than the coarse-grained partners.
• Grain-boundary sliding provides the main contribution to plastic deformation of nano-grained Y3Al5O12 transparent ceramics.

In order to improve the inherent brittleness of the conventional coarse-grained YAG transparent ceramics, nano-grained YAG transparent ceramics were fabricated at 5 GPa/450 °C using the super high pressure sintering technique. Their mechanical properties were investigated by nanoindentation and the Vickers indentation measuring methods. It was found that the nano-grained YAG transparent ceramics exhibited much better ductility compared with the coarse-grained counterparts. The grain-boundary sliding provides the main contribution to plastic deformations of nano-grained YAG transparent ceramics.

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