Papers by Author: Cun Xin Huang

Abstract: The present paper summarizes the technology and basic process for fabricating transparent ceramic MgAl2O4 spinel and introduces a scalable production technique. Fully transparent polycrystalline spinel has been prepared by combined vacuum sintering, hot-pressing, sintering in H2 atmosphere and hot isostatic pressing(HIP). The optical transmittance of the specimen sintered at 1500°C following HIP at 1800°C was nearly the same as that of single crystal spinel. When radiated by γ-ray and X- ray, colorless spinel became brown due to V-type color centers, which decreased its transmittance. On the other hand, the spinel ceramics’ resistance to radiation improved by doping CeO2.

Abstract: 5.0at% and 10.0at% Mn-doped MgAl2O4 transparent ceramics have been prepared through vacuum sintering (1750°C /2h) and subsequent hot isostatic pressing (HIP) (1650°C /2h). The effect of microstructure on the light transmittance of the sintered MgAl2O4 is discussed. Results showed that the grains became dense and grain boundary became clear and most of pores inside and between grains were removed, so the transmittance of two samples increased. The optical transmittance of the 5.0at% specimens was increased by one times in the visible light wavelength region. HIP treatment has a great effect on improving the transparency of samples with low doping concentrations.

Abstract: MgAl2O4 transparent nano-ceramic samples have been successfully prepared by ultrahighpressure- sintering method. The ultrafine MgAl2O4 nano-powder was obtained by high-temperaturecalcination method. The samples were sintered at relatively low temperatures (540, 620 and 700°C) under ultrahigh pressures (3, 3.7 and 5GPa) with a six-pressure-source and hexahedral anvil machine that is customarily used for diamond synthesis. The average grain sizes of the prepared samples range from 50 to 75nm. All of the samples sintered under different conditions are transparent. The sample sintered at 620°C under 3.7GPa has the highest density as well as the highest light transmittance (about 50%) at 1300 ~ 1700 nm. The results showed that the ultrahigh-pressure-sintered samples exhibit unique light transmission properties though their densities are not much higher (<97%), compared to the samples, of which densities are higher (>99.5%), obtained by conventional hot-pressing or hot isotopic pressing sintering methods. The light transmittance, its affecting factors and transparent mechanism of the MgAl2O4 samples have been discussed.

Abstract: Transparent Mg-Al spinel ceramics of four different nonstoichiometries were obtained utilizing two-stage sintering technique of vacuum sintering and post hot isostatic pressing using MgO·nAl2O3 powders with n of 1, 1.3, 1.5 and 1.8, respectively, as raw materials. The mechanical properties of the ceramics were measured and indentation shapes and radial crack propagations were observed. The results showed that change of molar ratio of Al2O3 to MgO leads to variation of indentation shapes and crack propagations of the ceramics, resulting in the change of mechanical properties of the ceramics. The flexural strengths of the ceramics increase first then decrease with increasing n. However, the hardness and fracture toughness of the ceramics increase with increasing n. As a result, an optimal n for high performance ceramic is suggested to be 1.5. In addition, mechanisms of toughening and strengthening of the transparent ceramics have also been discussed.

Abstract: In this paper, transparent polycrystalline magnesium aluminate spinel was fabricated by hot pressing ultra fine high purity spinel powder using LiF as the sintering aid in vacuum, then hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) the sintered body to improve the optical properties of the sample. The transmittance and the strength of the samples before and after HIPing were measured; morphologies of the fracture surface of the samples before and after HIPing were observed. Following hot pressing, the grain size of the sample is small; the transmission values are low and may varied at different sites in the same sample. After HIPing, the strength of the sample decreased, the grain size increased obviously, and the transmittance and the uniformity of transmittance increased significantly. The panel of transparent spinel up to 200 mm in diameter and 8 mm thick was fabricated by this method; the average transmittance of the spinel is above 80% in the range between 2 μm and 5 μm .

Abstract: The first experimental work to produce transparent MgAl2O4 nano-ceramics was reported in this paper. The sintering characteristics of transparent nano-ceramics were investigated at relatively low temperature (800 ~ 1100°C) under ultrahigh pressure (2 ~ 5 GPa) using hydrostatic equipment. The morphologies and phases of ceramics were observed by means of SEM and XRD, respectively. The grain sizes of the ceramics are shown to be less than one hundred nanometers, far smaller than the sizes of common transparent ceramics. Furthermore, the higher the sintering temperature and pressure are, the greater the extent of densification is. At the same temperature, the higher the pressure is, the smaller the average grain size is. Under the same pressure, the higher the temperature is, the larger the average grain size is. The optimal sintering condition for preparing transparent nano-ceramics was also determined.

Abstract: Fully transparent polycrystalline spinel(MgAl2O4)has been prepared by combined vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing. This paper investigated transparent polycrystalline spinel optical properties sintered in different atmospheres and discussed the effect of sintered processing parameters on the development of the microstructure and transmission properties. The optical transmittance of the specimen sintered at 1500°C following HIPed at 1800°C was nearly the same as that of single crystal spinel. The transmission properties of spinel can be improved with the increase of temperature and pressure of sintered/HIPed spinel. Specimens sintered in vacuum following HIP have higher transmittance than those sintered in air or in hydrogen.

Abstract: Ultrafine-grained (UFG) pure Cu processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was subjected to cyclic deformation and subsequent ageing treatment at room temperature (RT) in order to investigate the stability of defects and grain size. Cyclic deformation for 1000 cycles at RT leads to a large decrease of internal stress. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the stability of defects and grain size at RT in as-cyclic deformed sample is lower than that in as-processed sample and that a reduction of internal stress takes place prior to grain growth. TEM observations show that the microstructural evolution during ageing is characterized by normal grain growth accompanied with recovery within grain interior.