The letter "Y" for the Blogging A - Z Challenge

Today’s topic starts with the letter “Y”.

I was undecided what topic to cover for the letter “Y” as one is controversial and one is unknown – at least to me.  I decided to go with the unknown topic as I want to do more research on the controversial one.  That topic may come up in next year’s blogging challenge. 

So the subject for the letter “Y” is YAG.  YAG stands for the scientific name Yttrium Aluminum Garnet which is a manmade crystalline material of the garnet group.  It was created in the 1950s, developed in the 1960s and has been sold as a gem since 1969.  It is made by using the melt process where all the ingredients are heated until they liquefy.  A rod is then inserted, pulled slowly out and, as it is being pulled out, a crystal forms on the rod. 

It is usually colorless but may be pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple because of the addition of dopants (elements added in trace amounts to the "standard ingredients".)  It was used for a time in the jewelry business as a diamond and other gemstone simulant.  As synthetics, they were valued for their clarity, durability, refractive index and dispersion.  

YAG has numerous varietal and trade names, such as, alexite, diamonair, regalair, and yttrium garnet.  Production for the gem trade has declined since the introduction of the synthetic cubic zirconia. 

Sorry there are no pictures but when I searched for pictures there were none available.

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for the last of the Blogging A -Z Challenge blogs for the letter "Z".

Carolyn