Spark plasma sintering of Y2O3–MgO composite nanopowder synthesized by the esterification sol–gel route

Abstract The esterification sol–gel processed Y 2 O 3 –MgO composite nanopowder with an average grain size of 13 nm was consolidated by spark plasma sintering. The fabricated nanocomposite ceramic is mid-infrared transparent as the result of fine grains, narrow grain size distribution and uniform phase domains. The grain size increased dramatically with the increase of sintering temperature. For the Y 2 O 3 –MgO nanocomposite ceramic sintered at 1100 °C, the optical transmittance was greatly improved after the annealing process because of the relief of residual stress, carbides and oxygen vacancies.