YAG
YAG is a synthetic yttrium aluminium garnet single crystal, grown by Czochralski and also available as pressed-and-sintered transparent ceramic, supplied undoped or doped with Nd, Yb, Er or Ce.
Reference datasheet — YAG 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 SC-UND condition
YAG tempers and conditions
YAG is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. SC-UND is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Er:YAG | Pick for 2.94 µm medical/dental and 1.64 µm eye-safe lasers; heavy doping raises density and cuts thermal conductivity. | 170 | 0 | 1,330 HV | 7 W/m·K | |
Nd:YAG | The standard 1064 nm laser gain medium — pick for lamp- or diode-pumped rods, slabs and Q-switched markers. | 175 | 0 | 1,350 HV | 11 W/m·K | |
Yb:YAG | Pick for high-average-power 1030 nm thin-disk and diode-pumped systems where low quantum defect matters. | 175 | 0 | 1,350 HV | 8 W/m·K | |
SC-UNDDefault Undoped Czochralski single crystal | Pick for IR windows, laser end-caps/diffusion-bonded caps, substrates and optical components where no gain is wanted. | 180 | 0 | 1,350 HV | 11 W/m·K | |
Transparent polycrystalline YAG ceramic | Pick for large-aperture, composite or gradient-doped gain media and windows that cannot be grown as a single boule. | 190 | 0 | 1,400 HV | 10 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways YAG is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CE | Ce:YAG | Certification |
What is YAG?
YAG is a synthetic yttrium aluminium garnet single crystal, grown by Czochralski and also available as pressed-and-sintered transparent ceramic, supplied undoped or doped with Nd, Yb, Er or Ce. It is the standard host for solid-state laser gain media and is also used as an undoped IR window and epitaxial substrate, with 11.2 W/m·K thermal conductivity and service to 1600 °C. It is hard and brittle, so every shaping step is diamond sawing, grinding and polishing, and doped boules carry high cost and long lead times. YAG has a density of 4.55 g/cm³ (0.164 lb/in³), heavier than 80% of glass grades. It melts at 1,940°C (3,524 °F). YAG has a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi), stronger than 87% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
What is YAG used for?
- Nd:YAG laser rods
- solid-state laser windows
- epitaxial substrates
- IR optics
Advantages
- High service temperature — 1,600°C (2,912 °F), better than 98% of glass grades
- Stiff — 300 GPa (43.5 Msi), better than 95% of glass grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.6 MPa·√m (1.46 ksi·√in), better than 93% of glass grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 81% of glass grades
- Conducts heat well — 11.2 W/m·K (6.47 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of glass grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 150 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 100% of glass grades
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 92% of glass grades
- Heavy — 4.55 g/cm³ (0.164 lb/in³), worse than 80% of glass grades
YAG properties
Typical room-temperature values for YAG-SC-UND; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
YAG has a density of 4.55 g/cm³ (0.164 lb/in³), heavier than 80% of glass grades. It melts at 1,940°C (3,524 °F).
Mechanical12
YAG has a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi), stronger than 87% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
Thermal5
YAG is rated for continuous service to 1,600°C (2,912 °F). It conducts heat at 11.2 W/m·K (6.47 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 7.8 µm/m·K (4.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
YAG has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 81% of glass grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of YAG takes about 2,000 MJ of energy and emits 150 kg of CO₂ — more than 97% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability2
YAG's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 92% of glass grades).
Common Calculations4
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 glass family
Yield strength against density for every glass grade FabDigit runs. YAG is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with YAG
Is YAG easy to machine?
No conventional machining — cut with diamond ID/wire saws, then diamond grind, lap and polish; avoid edge chipping with chamfers and bonded supports.
Can YAG be welded?
Not weldable; joined by optical contacting or thermal diffusion bonding of undoped-to-doped YAG, or by metallizing plus indium/AuSn soldering for mounts.
Can YAG be formed, bent or molded?
Shape is set by Czochralski growth orientation (usually <111>) or by pressing plus vacuum sintering for the transparent-ceramic route; no plastic forming.
YAG 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ystoichiometric Y3Al5O12; equivalent to 57.1 wt% Y2O3 | 44.5 – 45.3 | 44.9 |
| Alequivalent to 42.9 wt% Al2O3 | 22.4 – 23 | 22.7 |
| dopant (Nd/Yb/Er/Ce/Cr)substitutes on the Y site in doped variants; 1 at.% Nd ≈ 0.72 wt% | 0 – 8 | 0 |
| Obalance oxygen | balance |
What surface finishes work on YAG?
Superpolished to λ/10 and <1 Å rms, then ion-beam-sputtered AR/HR dielectric coatings; barrel of rods is fine-ground or Cr-doped/roughened for parasitic-mode suppression.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to YAG in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Y3Al5O12
How much does YAG cost?
YAG is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
YAG — frequently asked
What is YAG used for?
YAG is typically used for nd:YAG laser rods, solid-state laser windows, epitaxial substrates and IR optics. In short: standard solid-state laser host; service to 1600 °C; diamond processing only.
What is the tensile strength of YAG?
YAG has a typical tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — stronger than 87% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is YAG easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 92% of glass grades). No conventional machining — cut with diamond ID/wire saws, then diamond grind, lap and polish; avoid edge chipping with chamfers and bonded supports.
Can YAG be welded?
Not weldable; joined by optical contacting or thermal diffusion bonding of undoped-to-doped YAG, or by metallizing plus indium/AuSn soldering for mounts.
What surface finishes work on YAG?
Superpolished to λ/10 and <1 Å rms, then ion-beam-sputtered AR/HR dielectric coatings; barrel of rods is fine-ground or Cr-doped/roughened for parasitic-mode suppression.
Can YAG be formed, bent or molded?
Shape is set by Czochralski growth orientation (usually <111>) or by pressing plus vacuum sintering for the transparent-ceramic route; no plastic forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of YAG?
YAG is rated for continuous use to about 1,600°C (2,912 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does YAG cost?
YAG is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- Nd:YAG and undoped YAG laser crystal data — Northrop Grumman SYNOPTICS (2020)
- YAG (Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) optical material data — Crystran Ltd (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Solid-State Laser Engineering — Springer (W. Koechner) (2006)
- Refractive index and Sellmeier data for Y3Al5O12 — refractiveindex.info compilation (2023)
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.