YAG ER (Er:YAG)
Grade
Pick for 2.94 µm medical/dental and 1.64 µm eye-safe lasers; heavy doping raises density and cuts thermal conductivity.
Values for the ER condition
Other YAG tempers and conditions
YAG is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at YAG.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ERThis page 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 |
What is YAG ER?
YAG ER is YAG in the ER grade — pick for 2.94 µm medical/dental and 1.64 µm eye-safe lasers; heavy doping raises density and cuts thermal conductivity. YAG ER has a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi), stronger than 87% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi). YAG ER has a density of 5.1 g/cm³ (0.184 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of glass grades. It melts at 1,940°C (3,524 °F). SC-UND is the default condition FabDigit quotes; ER is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 300 GPa (43.5 Msi), better than 95% of glass grades
- High service temperature — 1,200°C (2,192 °F), better than 94% of glass grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.5 MPa·√m (1.37 ksi·√in), better than 93% of glass grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 81% of glass grades
- Conducts heat well — 7 W/m·K (4.04 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% 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 — 5.1 g/cm³ (0.184 lb/in³), worse than 88% of glass grades
YAG ER properties
Typical room-temperature values for YAG ER; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are YAG reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
YAG ER has a density of 5.1 g/cm³ (0.184 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of glass grades. It melts at 1,940°C (3,524 °F).
Mechanical12
YAG ER has a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi), stronger than 87% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
Thermal5
YAG ER is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °F). It conducts heat at 7 W/m·K (4.04 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 7.8 µm/m·K (4.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
YAG ER 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 ER 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 ER's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 92% of glass grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with YAG ER
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.
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.
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 | — |
YAG ER — frequently asked
What is YAG ER used for?
YAG ER 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 ER?
YAG ER has a typical tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — stronger than 87% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is YAG ER 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 ER 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 ER?
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 ER 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 ER?
YAG ER is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.