Preparation and Characterization of Monodispersed and Spherical YAG Powder for Transparent Ceramic by Spray Drying

YAG transparent ceramic powders were prepared by spray drying method with anhydrous ethanol suspension. The morphology, size, forming performance and crushing behavior of granulated particles with different PVB binder contents, the pore distribution in green compacts as well as the microstructure and optical properties of sintered ceramics were investigated by SEM, mercury injection, EDS and UV-Visible-Infrared transmission spectroscopy. The optimal content of PVB is 1.0wt%. The granulated particles exhibit excellent forming performance with mono-dispersed and fully dense aggregates. They have high spherical degree and high chemical uniformity. Their mean size is ~40 μm. The granulated particels are completely crushed under 75 MPa pressure and form uniform and compact structure of green compacts. The sintered YAG transparent ceramics have good optical properties with homogeneous microstructure and without pore and defects.