| CPC C04B 35/62823 (2013.01) [C04B 35/10 (2013.01); C04B 35/48 (2013.01); C04B 35/547 (2013.01); C04B 35/581 (2013.01); C04B 35/62836 (2013.01); C04B 35/62884 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); C04B 2235/5454 (2013.01); C04B 2235/781 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material comprising:
a plurality of coated nanoparticles comprising nanoparticles of a first material coated with a coating of a second material, wherein:
the first material and the second material are mutually insoluble;
the first material and the second material each have a transmissivity of at least 80% for an intended wavelength;
the first material and the second material have a difference in index of refraction of less than 25%;
the first material and the second material have grains with a diameter of less than 1/20th the intended wavelength;
the coating of the second material on the nanoparticles of the first material is up to 50 nm thick; and
the NCOC material contains no more than 0.01% voids per unit volume following dry pressing and compacting, sintering, and hot isostatic pressing;
wherein the first material and the second material are selected to limit NCOC grain growth such that the NCOC exhibits grain growth of no greater than 20% when exposed to a temperature of −1400° C. to 1600° C. for one hour.
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