Method for large scale synthesis of optically stimulated luminescence grade polycrystalline ceramic material

A method for the synthesis of polycrystalline mass of ceramic materials with dopant C comprising:

• involving source ceramic material Al2O3 in its readily available powder form, to provide large scale synthesis of polycrystalline Al2O3:C of optically stimulated luminescence grade;
• said large scale synthesis of the polycrystalline Al2O3 includes:
• compaction of said Al2O3 powder to pellets;
• sintering of the Al2O3 pellets via thermal treatment;
• degassing of a graphite crucible in a melting furnace by heating to temperatures 1800° C.-2100° C. under vacuum of 500 mTorr to 10−4 Torr followed by natural cooling to room temperature;
• venting the furnace to atmospheric pressure by introduction of inert gases;
• loading of vertical stacks of sintered pellets preferably weighing in the range of 50-200 g in the degassed graphite crucible followed by evacuation up to vacuum of 10−4 to 10−6 Torr;
• subjecting the stacks to vacuum melt processing at temperatures around its melting point in inert atmosphere for formation of the Al2O3:C;
• solidification of the above molten mass by rapid cooling to room temperature and venting of the furnace to atmospheric pressure by introduction of inert gases;
• pulverization of the solidified charge to appropriate particle size;
• and
• annealing of the pulverized powder to remove strains during pulverization as well as to stabilize its sensitivity.