Characterizations of vacuum sintered Gd2Zr2O7 transparent ceramics using combustion synthesized nanopowder

Highly transparent Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 ceramic was fabricated by vacuum sintering using combustion synthesized nanopowder with mean particle size of about 80 nm. The morphology and structure were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electronic microscopy . The Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 nanopowder and transparent ceramic are both in low ordered pyrochlore structure. The effects of sintering temperature on the density and transmittance of Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 ceramic were investigated, and the optimum sintering temperature (1825 °C) was obtained. Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 transparent ceramic sintered at 1825 °C for 6 h shows the highest transmittance of 77.3 % and the average grain size of about 80 μm.