Hot-pressing and post-HIP treatment of Fe2+:ZnS transparent ceramics from co-precipitated powders

Transparent Fe2+:ZnS polycrystals are 3-5 μm mid-IR laser gain materials with great importance. In this paper, a novel route combining wet-chemical co-precipitation, hot-pressed sintering and post hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment was proposed for Fe2+:ZnS transparent ceramics. Fe2+:ZnS powders were synthesized successfully by the wet-chemical co-precipitation method, which was suitable for particle size and morphology controlling and then ceramics consolidation. Transparent Fe2+:ZnS ceramics with comparatively high optical quality were successfully fabricated by two step sintering method combining hot pressing and post-HIP treatment. This approach is a promising candidate for fabricating Fe2+:ZnS ceramics with large size, low cost, short cycle, and flexible concentration distribution design.