Fabrication of Optically Transparent Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate ((Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3) Ceramics by a Three-Stage-Atmosphere-Sintering Technique |
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Authors: | Yoshiyuki Abe Kazuyuki Kakegawa Hiroshi Ushijima Yoshikazu Watanabe Yoshinori Sasaki |
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Affiliation: | Graduate School of Science and Technology, Chiba University, Chiba-shi 263-8522, Japan;Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba-shi 263-8522, Japan |
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Abstract: | An easy technique has been developed to fabricate optically transparent lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics. This technique consists of three stages: (1) sintering in an oxygen atmosphere, (2) elimination of pores in a carbon dioxide atmosphere, and (3) elimination of oxygen vacancies in an oxygen atmosphere. The carbon dioxide atmosphere enhances the diffusion of oxygen from the pores to outside the sintered body. The experimental results reveal that use of a carbon dioxide atmosphere effectively decreases residual pores and improves optical transmittance. From commercially available raw powders, an optical transmittance of 51% (wavelength of 550 nm) can be achieved for 0.7 mm thick polished PLZT9/65/35 ceramics using a carbon dioxide atmosphere, whereas the value is only 34% without a carbon dioxide atmosphere. The advantage of this technique is that PLZT ceramics having high optical quality can be obtained using conventional sintering tools. |
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Keywords: | lanthanum/lanthanum compounds lead zirconate titanate optical materials/properties sinter/sintering |
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