Nanoparticles prepared by the coprecipitation method were used as raw materials to fabricate Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) ceramics by air pressureless sintering. The synthesized YIG precursor was calcinated at 900–1100 °C for 4 h in air. The influences of the calcination temperature on the phase and morphology of the nanopowders were investigated in detail. The powders calcined at 1000–1100 °C retained the pure YIG phase. YIG ceramics were fabricated by sintering at 1200–1400 °C for 10 h, and its densification behavior was studied. YIG ceramics prepared by air sintering at 1250 °C from powders calcinated at 1000 °C have the highest in-line transmittance in the range of 1000-3000 nm. When the sintering temperature exceeds 1300 °C, the secondary phase appears in the YIG ceramics, which may be due to the loss of oxygen during the high-temperature sintering process, resulting in the conversion of Fe3+ into Fe2+.
Rationally designed mineralization for selective recovery of the rare earth elements
