Magnesium aluminate transparent ceramic having low scattering and absorption loss

摘要

A ceramic having at least about 90% by weight magnesium aluminate and having a bulk scattering and absorption loss of less than about 1/cm at any wavelength in a range of about 0.23 to about 5.3 microns or 0.2/cm at any wavelength in a range of about 0.27 to about 4.5 microns. A method of making a ceramic by providing a plurality of particles having a magnesium aluminate core and a fluoride salt coating; heating the particles in an oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature in the range of about 400° C. to about 750° C.; and sintering the particles to form a solid ceramic.