Static recrystallization of transparent polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)

Abstract Cold deformation was realized in the transparent polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) using Vickers indentation. Following this, annealing at 1500 °C for 2 h led to a grain refinement from 4.8 to 0.49 μm in the plastically deformed region, indicating the occurrence of recrystallization. It is supported by transmission electron microscope characterization that plastic deformation-induced dislocations are annihilated and rearranged, resulting in the formation of new grain boundaries during annealing.