Conference Dates
March 6-11, 2016
Abstract
Recently, extensive efforts were made towards investigation and development of spark plasma sintering (SPS) as a promising technique for rapid densification of ceramics at relatively low temperatures. In this respect, SPS was used for various processes and materials including fabrication of bulk metals and ceramics and their composites. Furthermore, this ‘low temperature’ processing allowed consolidation of ceramics with strong covalent bonding to the full density. However, significant gap exists between the technological and fabrication achievements to the fundamental understanding of the SPS mechanisms. This gap is due to the complexity of the thermal, electrical and mechanical processes that may be involved during the SPS, in addition to their dependence on the SPS parameters, as well as a reasonable question of possibility of scaling up. The majority of reports provided in peer-reviewed journals usually focuses on the ceramic specimens not larger than 40 mm, which is a reasonable size even for more “conventional” consolidation method that of hot-pressing.
Hence, the present work focuses on the natural scaling up processes for fabrication of a large size specimens approaching 100 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height, and provides an analysis for the densification process, structure evolution (including homogeneity), and, crucially, concentrates on the change in the mechanical properties that arises during scaling up process for high-temperature ceramics consolidated at temperatures higher than 1800 °C.
Recommended Citation
Oleg Vasylkiv, "Growing larger: Scaling up during spark plasma sintering of high– temperature ceramics" in "Electric Field Assisted Sintering and Related Phenomena Far From Equilibrium", Rishi Raj (University of Colorado at Boulder, USA) Thomas Tsakalakos (Rutgers University, USA) Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2016). https://dc.engconfintl.org/efa_sintering/51