A new method for calculating the residual porosity of transparent materials

Abstract To quantify residual porosity of the materials is important when analyzing their microstructure and functional performance. The problem becomes particularly urgent for functional (optical, laser) materials. A common way to solve it is to calculate the quantity and size of pores on the sample's cross-section. However, authors do not pay special attention to experimental data processing. Present work studies pore size distribution in 1–4 at% Nd 3+ :YAG transparent ceramics using experimental measurements of pore sizes determined from the cross-section. Suggested method enables one to evaluate residual porosity correctly.