Effects of cation ordering and microstructure on LaGdZr2O7 transparent ceramics processing by vacuum sintering

LaGdZr2O7 transparent ceramics were fabricated by the vacuum sintering method using the precursor made from coprecipitation synthesis. The effects of calcination temperature on cation ordering and the morphology of LaGdZr2O7 powders, as well as the microstructure and transmittance of the LaGdZr2O7 ceramics, were investigated. As the calcination temperature for LaGdZr2O7 powder preparation increased from 1000 degrees C to 1300 degrees C, the domain and particle size increased, and the cations [(La1/2Gd1/2)(3+) -Zr4+] became more ordered. The LaGdZr2O7 powders calcined from 1150 degrees C to 1200 degrees C showed weak agglomeration and gave the best sintering manner for fabricating transparent ceramics. LaGdZr2O7 transparent ceramics with an in-line transmittance of 73-75% (at 1200 nm) were obtained from the LaGdZr2O7 powder sintered at 1800 degrees C in vacuum for 10 h. The scattering of pores should be responsible for the low transmittance of LaGdZr2O7 ceramics in the current study.