Abstract: The single phase of Nd:YAG powder were synthesized at 1000℃ by the evaporation of its nitrate solution method using Al(NO₃)₃9H₂O, Y(NO₃)₃6H₂O and Nd₂O₃ as starting materials. With the addition of 0.5％(in mass) tetraethyl orthosilicate as the sintering aid, transparent Nd:YAG ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering at 1500℃~1700℃ for 5h. The Nd:YAG transparent ceramics materials were characterized by the XRD and SEM. The results show that the precursor completely transformed to the YAG(Y₃Al₅O₁₂) phase at about 1000℃ without the intermediate phase of YAM and YAP. The dispersive and flowing property of the particle are very good and the grain size of Nd:YAG is in the range of 200~250nm. The SEM of the fracture surface of the sintered body shows that the grain size is about 2~4μm and that the grain increases while the pores decrease with the increase of the sintered temperatures. The chemical composition of Nd:YAG transparent ceramics in the inner grain and at the grain boundary are basically uniform. Its optical transmittance reaches 47％ in the visible light wavelengths, and 56％ in the infrared wavelengths.

Key words: nitrate pyrogenation method, Nd:YAG, transparent ceramics