Method for sintering high density yttria gadolinia ceramic scintillators

Patent · Tue May 21 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6435787

Cusano, D A; DiBianca, F A; Greskovich, C D

A method for preparing high density yttria-gadolinia ceramic scintillators by cold-pressing multicomponent powder to form powder compacts and then sintering the compacts to form transparent-to-translucent ceramic scintillator bodies. The powder compacts are formed by either die pressing or die pressing followed by isostatic pressing to further increase green density. The powder compacts are sintered in vacuum or a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of between 1800/sup 0/ C. and 2100/sup 0/ C. The preferred heating sequence includes a holding period at a temperature lower than the final sintering temperature. The finished scintillator includes Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Gd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and one or more of Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Nd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Yb/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Dy/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Pr/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and Tb/sub 2/O/sub 3/ rare earth activator oxides. At least one of the oxides of elements Zr, Th, and Ta is included as a transparency promoting densifying agent. At least one of CaO and SrO may be included as a light output restorer.

• Assignee: General Electric Company
• Patent Number(s): US 4518545
• OSTI ID: 6435787
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ADDITIVES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COLD PRESSING
COLOR
DENSITY
DYSPROSIUM COMPOUNDS
DYSPROSIUM OXIDES
EUROPIUM COMPOUNDS
EUROPIUM OXIDES
FABRICATION
GADOLINIUM COMPOUNDS
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
MATERIALS WORKING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
NEODYMIUM OXIDES
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWDERS
PRASEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
PRASEODYMIUM OXIDES
PRESSING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SINTERING
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
YTTERBIUM COMPOUNDS
YTTERBIUM OXIDES
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM OXIDES