Y2O3
Y2O3 (yttria) is a refractory rare-earth oxide supplied as sintered 99.9 % bodies, HIP-processed transparent grades, 99.99 % powder and plasma-spray coatings.
Reference datasheet — Y2O3 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the SINT-99.9 condition
Y2O3 tempers and conditions
Y2O3 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. SINT-99.9 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SINT-99.9Default Pressed and sintered dense Y2O3, 99.9 % purity | Standard opaque structural/crucible grade: dense sintered yttria for molten-metal crucibles, furnace parts and plasma-chamber components. | 700 HV | 13 W/m·K | |||
vacuum-sintered/HIPed transparent polycrystalline Y2O3 | Choose for IR windows/domes and laser hosts: pore-free HIPed body transparent from ~0.3 to 8 µm. | 740 HV | 14 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Y2O3 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PWD-99.99 | High-purity Y2O3 powder (99.99 %+), dopant / spray feedstock | Supply form |
PS-COAT | Atmospheric plasma-sprayed Y2O3 coating | Surface finish |
What is Y2O3?
Y2O3 (yttria) is a refractory rare-earth oxide supplied as sintered 99.9 % bodies, HIP-processed transparent grades, 99.99 % powder and plasma-spray coatings. It is used in bulk form for IR-transparent windows and laser hosts and, more commonly, as the stabilising dopant for tetragonal zirconia and as a plasma-resistant chamber coating. Density is 5.01 g/cm³, elastic modulus about 165 GPa, thermal conductivity 13 W/m·K, and service reaches 2000 °C. Toughness is low and machinability rates 6, so fired parts require diamond work and chip at edges; alumina is the cheaper alternative where halogen-plasma resistance is not required. Y2O3 has a density of 5.01 g/cm³ (0.181 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,425°C (4,397 °F). The elastic modulus is 165 GPa (23.9 Msi).
What is Y2O3 used for?
- zirconia stabilizer dopant
- IR-transparent optical windows
- laser gain-media hosts
- plasma-resistant chamber coatings
Advantages
- High service temperature — 2,000°C (3,632 °F), better than 94% of ceramic grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
Y2O3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Y2O3-SINT-99.9; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical5
Y2O3 has a density of 5.01 g/cm³ (0.181 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,425°C (4,397 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 165 GPa (23.9 Msi).
Thermal5
Y2O3 is rated for continuous service to 2,000°C (3,632 °F). It conducts heat at 13 W/m·K (7.51 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 58% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 7.6 µm/m·K (4.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Y2O3 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 12 kV/mm (304.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Y2O3 takes about 280 MJ of energy and emits 22 kg of CO₂ — more than 71% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
Y2O3's machinability is not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. Y2O3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Y2O3
Is Y2O3 easy to machine?
Green/bisque machining is the economical route; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping and ultrasonic/laser drilling — low toughness makes edge chipping the main risk.
Can Y2O3 be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu), glass sealing or mechanical clamping with compliant gaskets.
Can Y2O3 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial/CIP pressing, slip or tape casting and injection moulding of 99.9 % powder, then sintering at 1600–1800 °C; HIP or vacuum sintering with ZrO2/La2O3 aids gives transparency.
Y2O3 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Ostoichiometric oxygen | 21.1 – 21.4 | 21.26 |
| other rare earths (Ho, Er, Dy, Tb)typical 99.9–99.99 % purity residuals | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| SiO2+Fe2O3+CaOnon-RE impurities | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Yas Y2O3, cubic bixbyite structure | ≥ 78.4 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Y2O3?
Diamond lapping and CMP give optical polish (Ra < 5 nm); plasma-sprayed or aerosol-deposited Y2O3 layers are the standard finish on semiconductor chamber hardware.
How much does Y2O3 cost?
Y2O3 is a premium-cost ceramic ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Y2O3 — frequently asked
What is Y2O3 used for?
Y2O3 is typically used for zirconia stabilizer dopant, IR-transparent optical windows, laser gain-media hosts and plasma-resistant chamber coatings. In short: halogen-plasma resistant oxide; stabiliser for tetragonal zirconia; refractory to 2000 °C.
Is Y2O3 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades). Green/bisque machining is the economical route; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping and ultrasonic/laser drilling — low toughness makes edge chipping the main risk.
Can Y2O3 be welded?
Not weldable; join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu), glass sealing or mechanical clamping with compliant gaskets.
What surface finishes work on Y2O3?
Diamond lapping and CMP give optical polish (Ra < 5 nm); plasma-sprayed or aerosol-deposited Y2O3 layers are the standard finish on semiconductor chamber hardware.
Can Y2O3 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial/CIP pressing, slip or tape casting and injection moulding of 99.9 % powder, then sintering at 1600–1800 °C; HIP or vacuum sintering with ZrO2/La2O3 aids gives transparency.
What is the maximum service temperature of Y2O3?
Y2O3 is rated for continuous use to about 2,000°C (3,632 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Y2O3 cost?
Y2O3 is a premium-cost ceramic ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (properties of Y2O3) — CRC Press (2020)
- Yttria (Y2O3) technical ceramic and crucible data — CoorsTek / Kyocera / Ferrotec (2023)
- Transparent polycrystalline yttria optical ceramic property data — Konoshima / Optical ceramics literature (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.