Hot pressing of Ho2O3 and Dy2O3 based magneto-optical ceramics

The paper presents results of a research on fabrication of magneto-optical ceramics based on Ho2O3 and Dy2O3 sesquioxides. The ceramics were made by hot pressing of powders prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The methods and modes of the powder treatment developed made it possible to significantly increase the thickness of the ceramics without deterioration in optical quality in comparison with the samples obtained by vacuum sintering. The characteristics of the ceramics, such as transmission spectrum, thermal conductivity, linear thermal expansion coefficient, microhardness, elastic modulus, and crack resistance have been investigated.