Effect of Hot Pressing Conditions on the Microstructure and Optical Properties of MgO–Y2O3 Composite Ceramics

We have studied the effect of hot pressing conditions on the microstructure and optical characteristics of Y2O3–MgO composite ceramics. The hot pressing conditions have been optimized so as to minimize scattering of IR radiation in the range 4–5 μm by residual pores and crystallites of the composite. Annealing the Y2O3–MgO ceramics in air at a temperature of 1100°C for 5 h has been shown to eliminate the absorption band peak at ~4.94 μm arising from carbon monoxide captured in residual pores.