Materials development and potential applications of transparent ceramics: A review

Publication date: Available online 1 October 2019Source: Materials Science and Engineering: R: ReportsAuthor(s): Zhuohao Xiao, Shijin Yu, Yueming Li, Shuangchen Ruan, Ling Bing Kong, Qing Huang, Zhengren Huang, Kun Zhou, Haibin Su, Zhengjun Yao, Wenxiu Que, Yin Liu, Tianshu Zhang, Jun Wang, Peng Liu, Deyuan Shen, Mathieu Allix, Jian Zhang, Dingyuan TangAbstractTransparent ceramics have various potential applications such as infrared (IR) windows/domes, lamp envelopes, opto-electric components/devices, composite armors, and screens for smartphones and they can be used as host materials for solid-state lasers. Transparent ceramics were initially developed to replace single crystals because of their simple processing route, variability in composition, high yield productivity, and shape control, among other factors. Optical transparency is one of the most important properties of transparent ceramics. In order to achieve transparency, ceramics must have highly symmetric crystal structures; therefore, the majority of the transparent ceramics have cubic structures, while tetragonal and hexagonal structures have also been reported in the open literature. Moreover, the optical transparency of ceramics is determined by their purity and density; the production of high-purity ceramics requires high-purity starting materials, and the production of high-density ceramics requires sophisticated sintering techniques and optimized sintering aids. Furthermore, specific mechanical properties are...
Source: Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research