US 7,531,109 B2
Rare earth oxysulfide scintillator and methods for producing same
Brian C. LaCourse, Pepperell, Mass. (US); and Morteza Zandi, Webster, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc., Worcester, Mass. (US)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/488,905.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/702330, filed on Jul. 25, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0027025 A1, Feb. 01, 2007
Int. Cl. C09K 11/84 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 252—301.4S  [264/21; 264/663; 264/664; 264/666] 20 Claims
 
1. A method of producing a rare earth oxysulfide scintillating ceramic body, comprising:
providing a powder having the general formula (M1-xLnx)2O2S, wherein M is at least one rare earth element, Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Pr, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, Nd, and Ho, and 1×10−6<x<2×10−1;
heat treating the powder to form a consolidated body having closed porosity, wherein heat treating is carried out at a temperature Tht; and
gas hot isostatic pressing (GHIPing) the consolidated body to a density not less than 99% of theoretical density, in a GHlPing environment having a temperature Thip, where 1100° C.<Thip<1500° C., thereby forming a densified body.