Effect of Process Parameters on the Properties of Yttrium Oxide Ceramics

The demand for innovative materials with multiple properties, that are economically feasible, has opened the way for materials such as polycrystalline transparent ceramics. These ceramics have the advantage of materials with high mechanical resistance, good thermal and chemical stability, optical transparency, biocompatibility, adaptable properties, transmission range from UV to IR, the possibility of doping with rare earths. In addition, they have found their utility in aerospace and military applications, the manufacturing of high-temperature IR windows or armored windows, electro-optical devices, lasers, scintillators, catalysts, fluorescent markers etc. In this paper, we studied the influence of process parameters on the hydrothermal synthesis of yttrium oxide ceramics. Practically, we used yttrium nitrate and urea in the presence of polyethylene glycol, and the colloidal precipitate was transferred to a 40 ml autoclave and maintained at 150°C for 12 h. The resulting precursor was subjected to a thermal treatment at 600°C for 3 h. The effects of the process parameters on the structure, morphology and optical properties were investigated in detail. The transition from the precursor to the crystalline phase of yttrium oxide was observed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of M-O bonds, while XRD data demonstrated the progression of the crystalline phase. The particles’ spherical form and rounded edges were seen at SEM. The optical investigations validated the utility and suitability of the proposed method for the production of yttrium oxide-based ceramics.