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Two-step preparation of AlON transparent ceramics with powder synthesized by aluminothermic reduction and nitridation method

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Abstract

The aluminothermic reduction and nitridation method using microsized Al powder and nanosized alumina powder was employed to fabricate AlON powder under N2 atmosphere. Single-phase aluminum oxynitride (AlON) can be prepared at a relatively low temperature (1700 °C) with a holding time of 3 h. The powder is ball milled, doped with different amounts of Y2O3 (0.1–0.9 wt%) as a sintering additive, and then shaped into pellets. The pellet sintering is carried out at two relatively low temperatures (1860 and 1880 °C) for 10 h. The transmittance and hardness of the obtained samples varies as the amount of Y2O3 varies. The sample sintered under optimal conditions can reach an ultimate transmittance of 65% with 2 mm thickness. The Vickers hardness of highly transparent AlON ceramic is about 15.95 ± 0.17 GPa, indicating that our method has a promising future in transparent AlON ceramic production. The sintering promoting mechanisms of Y2O3 are also discussed in detail.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of P. R. China under Grant Nos. 51002098 and 91326103, the Fund of Aeronautics Science (Grant No. 20100119003), and the Talent Introduction Program of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering (2013RC07). All analyses were done at the Analytical and Testing Center of Sichuan University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Physical Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Wang, Xiumin Xie, Jianqi Qi, Nian Wei & Tiecheng Lu

  2. Key Laboratory of High Energy Density Physics of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Wang, Jianqi Qi & Nian Wei

  3. Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People’s Republic of China

    Xiumin Xie

  4. School of Science, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, Sichuan, 643000, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Wang

  5. Peter A. Rock Thermochemistry Laboratory and NEAT ORU, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    Di Wu & Xiaofeng Guo

  6. International Center for Material Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110015, People’s Republic of China

    Tiecheng Lu

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  1. Ying Wang
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Correspondence to Jianqi Qi or Tiecheng Lu.

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Wang, Y., Xie, X., Qi, J. et al. Two-step preparation of AlON transparent ceramics with powder synthesized by aluminothermic reduction and nitridation method. Journal of Materials Research 29, 2325–2331 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.230

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