Effect of ZrO₂ Content on Microstructure Evolution and Sintering Properties of (Tb_0.7Lu_0.3)₂O₃ Magneto-Optic Transparent Ceramics

Abstract

In this paper, (Tb0.7Lu0.3)2O3 magneto-optical transparent ceramics with different ZrO2 doping levels (0~5 at%) were prepared by hydrogen sintering and sequential HIP technique using ZrO2 as a sintering aid. The effect of ZrO2 doping content on the microstructure and optical properties of (Tb0.7Lu0.3)2O3 ceramics was analyzed. We found that the optimal doping content of ZrO2 was 3 at%. The transmittance of 3 at% ZrO2-doped (Tb0.7Lu0.3)2O3 ceramics at the wavelength of 1064 nm was 74.84 %, and the Verdet constant was approximately 275.28 rad·T−1·m−1 at the wavelength of 650 nm.

Keywords

• magneto-optic ceramics
• Tb₂O₃
• Lu₂O₃
• ZrO₂
• microstructure
• sintering properties