• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2021

Fabrication of infrared (IR) transparent ZnS ceramics by spark plasma sintering (SPS) suffers from carbon contamination due to the graphite mold in the SPS system. In the present work, we consolidated transparent ZnS ceramics by SPS using Mo metal foil to prevent the generation of carbonate and/or carbon impurities in the sintered product. The effect of Mo foil on carbon contamination and IR transmittance was investigated. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that the C-O absorption peak was significantly reduced, however, sulfur vacancies were generated, thus, deteriorating the overall transmittance. The sulfur vacancies were eliminated by post-annealing the specimen in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereby the overall IR transmittance was partially recovered. The results indicate that metal foil wrapping of green bodies could be potentially applicable for the fabrication of carbon contamination-free ZnS ceramics via SPS system.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2019

In this study, mid-infrared transparent zinc sulfide (ZnS) ceramics were fabricated through hydrothermal synthesis with different molar ratios of S/Zn (S/Zn = 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6). The ZnS ceramics were sintered at a relatively low temperature of $850^{\circ}C$ to prevent the occurrence of the hexagonal phase featuring optical anisotropy. The phase composition, microstructure, and optical properties of the ZnS ceramics were subsequently investigated by employing X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy. The results obtained indicate that the ZnS nanoparticles feature the cubic phase, without the hexagonal phase. Moreover, with increasing S, the crystallinity and particle size of the ZnS nanoparticles increased. The crystallinity and density of the ZnS ceramics improved when the molar ratio of S was higher than the molar ratio of Zn, thereby enhancing the transmittance. Furthermore, the ZnS ceramic with an S/Zn value of 1.2 was found to exhibit the highest transmittance of approximately 69% owing to the reduced occurrence of the hexagonal phase and a high density of 99.8%.

• Ceramist
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.28-33
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• 2007

The structural and optical properties of Ni-doped transparent glass-ceramics are reviewed. The quantum efficiencies of ceramics were examined to explore suitable crystalline phase for Ni-doping in glass-ceramics. Inverse spinel $LiGa_5O_8$ have the quantum efficiency of almost 100 % at room temperature. Transparent glass ceramics containing $LiGa_5O_8$ was successfully synthesized by heat treatment of $Li_2O-Ga_2-O_3-SiO_2-NiO$ glass. Most of $Ni^{2+}$ ions in glass-ceramic were incorporated into $LiGa_5O_8$ nanocrystals. The near-infrared emission covering from the O-band to L-band (1260-1625 nm) was observed from the Ni-doped $Li_2O-Ga_2O_3-SiO_2$ glass-ceramic though it was not observed from the as-cast glass. The lifetime of the emission was about $580\;{\mu}sec$ even at 300K. The emission quantum efficiency was evaluated as about 10 % that is enough high for practical usage as gain media of optical fiber amplifiers. The figure of merit (the product of the stimulated emission cross section and lifetime) was as high as that of rare-earth-doped glasses. The broad bandwidth, high quantum efficiency and high figure of merit show that transparent glass-ceramics containing $Ni^{2+}:LiGa_5O_8$ nanocrystals are promising candidates as novel ultra-broadband gain media.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2018

Infrared transparent ZnS ceramics were synthesized through hydrothermal synthesis ($180^{\circ}C$, 70 h) and sintered using a hot press process at $750^{\circ}C-1000^{\circ}C$. We carried out x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy to confirm the optical properties of the ZnS ceramics after sintering at various temperatures. The phase of ZnS nanopowders was a single phase (cubic) without the hexagonal phase. However, as sintering temperature increased, the formation and increment of hexagonal structures was confirmed. The ZnS ceramic sintered at a temperature of $750^{\circ}C$ showed poor transmittance because it was not completely sintered and because of the pore effect. The ZnS ceramic with the highest transmittance (approximately 69%) was sintered at $800^{\circ}C$. As sintering temperature increased, transmittance gradually decreased owing to the increase in the formation of the hexagonal phase.

• Ceramist
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.48-54
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• 2007

Glass-ceramics transparent above $10\;{\mu}m$ in the infrared, have been synthesized. They are based on germanium and antimony sulphides or selenides associated to alkali halides. They are prepared by heating glass samples at temperatures above the glass transition, as a function of time. Ceramisation can be controlled, so that sub-100 nm crystals are generated in the glass matrix. Then, low light scattering is achieved and the transparency window of the original glass is maintained. When gallium sulphide is added, glass ceramics can be doped with rare-earth ions. Emissions from the $^4F_{3/2}$ and $^4I_{13/2}$ of $Nd^{3+}$ and $Er^{3+}$ ions, respectively, are more intense in glass-ceramics, as compared to their vitreous counterpart. Examination of band profiles and decaytimes show that rare-earth ions are embedded in both crystalline and glassy environments.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.444-449
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• 2010

Transparent ceramics are used in new technology because of their excellent mechanical properties over glasses. Transparent ceramics are nowadays widely used in armor, laser windows, and in high temperature applications. Silicon nitride ceramics have excellent mechanical properties and if transparent silicon nitride is fabricated, it can be widely used. h-BN has a lubricating property and is ductile. Therefore, adding h-BN to silicon nitride ceramics gives a lubricating property and is also machinable. Translucent silicon nitride was fabricated by hot-press sintering (HPS) and 57% transmittance was observed in the near infrared region. A higher wt. % of h-BN in silicon nitride ceramics does not favor transparency. The optical, mechanical, and tribological properties of BN dispersed polycrystalline $Si_3N_4$ ceramics were affected by the density, ${\alpha}:{\beta}$-phase ratio, and content of h-BN in sintered ceramics. The hot pressed samples were prepared from the mixture of $\alpha-Si_3N_4$, AlN, MgO, and h-BN at $1850^{\circ}C$. The composite contained from 0.25 to 2 wt. % BN powder with sintering aids (9% AlN + 3% MgO). A maximum transmittance of 57% was achieved for the 0.25 wt. % BN doped $Si_3N_4$ ceramics. Fracture toughness increased and wear volume and the friction coefficient decreased with an increase in BN content. The properties such as transmittance, density, hardness, and flexural strength decreased with an increase in content of h-BN in silicon nitride ceramics.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.722-727
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• 2017

Transparent ZnS ceramics were synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis ($180^{\circ}C$ for 70 h), and were sintered by a hot press process at $950^{\circ}C$. To confirm the optical properties of the ZnS ceramics after sintering for various sintering holding times, we performed X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy. The ZnS nanopowders was found to be single-phase (cubic) without any hexagonal phase. However, the hexagonal phase is formed and increases in content with increasing sintering holding time. The density of the ZnS ceramics was above 99.7%, except for the unsintered one. The ZnS ceramics showed high transmittance (~70%) when sintered for more than 2 h.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2005

A sub-millimeter scale catalytic combustor with a simple plate-shaped combustion chamber was fabricated. A porous ceramics support coated with platinum catalyst was placed in the chamber. The combustor has a gallium arsenide window on the top that is transparent to infrared ray. The temperature distribution in the combustion chamber was measured using infrared thermal imager while hydrogen-air premixture is steadily supplied to the combustor. The area where the catalytic reaction took place broaden for higher flow rate and lower equivalence ratio made activated area in the combustion chamber broaden. The amount of coated platinum catalyst did not affect the reaction. Stop of reaction, which is similar to flame quenching of conventional combustion, was investigated. Large content of heat generation and broad activated area are essential criteria to prevent stop of reaction that has a bad effect on the combustor performance.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2019

Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites are promising materials for hypersonic infrared windows and domes due to their excellent midIR transmittance and mechanical properties. In this work, influence of SPS heating rate on the microstructure, IR transmittance, and mechanical properties of Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites was investigated. It was found that the average grain size decreases with a decreasing heating rate, which can be attributed to high defect concentration by rapid heating and deformation during densification. Also, the residual porosity decreases with a decreasing heating rate, which is ascribed to the enhancement of grain boundary diffusion by a large grain-boundary area (a small grain size). Consequently, high transmittance and hardness were attained by the low heating rate. On the other hand, the mechanical strength showed little difference with the heating rate change, which is somewhat different from the general knowledge on ceramics and will be discussed in this letter.