Patent ID: 8142709

Claim:
A rapid process for manufacturing a transparent body of sintered magnesium aluminate spinel, comprising in one integrated stage i) heating an approximately equimolar mixture of MgO and Al 2 O 3 powders with an additive of about 0.5 to 2 wt % LiF at a temperature-increase rate of from 70 to 200° C. up to a maximal temperature of about 1600° C.; ii) applying, at said maximal temperature of about 1600° C., a gradually increasing axial pressure at a rate of from 5 to 10 MPa/min, up to a maximal pressure of between 50 and 100 MPa; and iii) maintaining said maximal temperature and said maximal pressure for from 0.75 to 2 hours, followed by cooling to ambient temperature.