Fabrication of MgO-Y₂O₃ Composite Nanopowders by Combining Hydrothermal and Seeding Methods

In this study, the combination of hydrothermal technique and seed-doping method was conducted to coordinately control the formation of fine MgO-Y₂O₃ powders, which are promising mid-infrared materials applied to hypersonic aircraft windows due to their excellent infrared transmissions over wide regions. Y(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, Y₂O₃ seeds and MgO seeds were used as raw materials to prepare the MgO-Y₂O₃ composite powders (50:50 vol.%), and the influences of the seed contents and hydrothermal treatment temperatures on the final powders and hot-pressed ceramics were investigated by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The results show that powders with a seed content of 5% that are hydrothermally synthesized at 190 °C can present a better uniformity and dispersion with a particle size of ~125 nm. Furthermore, the ceramics prepared with the above powders displayed a homogenous two-phase microstructure, fewer pores and a fine grain size with Y₂O₃ of ~1 µm and MgO of ~620 nm. The present study may open an avenue for developing transparent ceramics based on MgO-Y₂O₃ nanopowders prepared by hydrothermal technique.