New Ceramic Nanocomposite Demonstrates High IR Transmittance, Thermal Stability

A research team that includes scientists from Russia, Ukraine, and China has developed a Y2O3-MgO fine-grained composite ceramic material that transmits over 70% of light in the infrared (IR) range with wavelengths up to 6000 nm. Ceramic nanocomposites are considered promising materials for operations in the IR range and are known for their advanced thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and mechanical stability, the researchers said. The mechanical and optical properties of the Y2O3-MgO nanocomposite with uniform distribution of two phases surpass its single-phase commercial analogs, Y2O3 and MgO. The new material has a staggered structure with 1:1 phase volume ratio. Its average grain size is 250 nm, and its microhardness is over...