Reaction sintering of transparent alumina-rich magnesium aluminate spinel

Magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) is considered as one of the most promising transparent ceramic for optical applications. The advantages over various transparent ceramic materials are the optically isotrop crystal lattice and the potential to investigate the wide solid solution range (MgO*nAl2O3, 0.7 2O3 is set to the stoichiometric spinel (n = 1,0), the effect of the wide solid solution range on consolidation and transparency are not investigated. This study is concerned with the processing of corundum/periclase-mixtures in water-based medium and with the reaction-sintering of alumina-rich spinel compositions (n > 1). The development of a low-cost synthesis route for the future was the aim of this work. © 2015, Springer Vieweg. All rights reserved.