Recent Advances in Mechanism Research and Methods for Electric‐Field‐Assisted Sintering of Ceramics

Abstract

Electric-field-assisted sintering of ceramic materials is under considerable attention during recent years. The current research is reviewed with a focus on mechanism research. Research of the mass transfer mechanisms in flash sintering (FS) is under debate during recent years. The research yields three main proposed mechanisms: nucleation due to movement of charged defects, Joule heating runaway, and electrochemical reactions. These are critically presented and discussed. Unlike FS, the mechanism of field-assisted sintering technologies (FAST) of ceramics is well agreed upon. However, recent studies challenge even this perception with new approaches, which are presented here. New technological and methodological developments in both FS and FAST/spark plasma sintering are also presented.

Factors affecting the translucency of monolithic zirconia ceramics: A review from materials science perspective

“…SPS is an effective method of sintering the Y-TZP material at relatively low temperatures that limits grain growth and contributes to full densification of the ceramic powders 52,71,72) . In this method, the high temperature levels as 3-10 thousands o C creates melting and evaporation of powder particle surfaces.…”

Flash sintering of 3YSZ/Al2O3‐platelet composites

“…Since first reported in 2010 by Cologna et al, flash sintering has been demonstrated to be an innovative technique to densify ceramic compacts at low temperatures in very short time . In a typical flash sintering experiment, the sample is connected to an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power supply and the electric field is directly applied to the sample, then the sample is heated in an ordinary furnace.…”

“…Therefore, we want to know the feasibility of employing the flash sintering to prepare the 3YSZ/Al 2 O 3 ‐platelet composites. In addition, it is believed that the flash‐sintered 3YSZ/Al 2 O 3 ‐platelet composites would have the improved properties due to the finer grain size compared to the conventionally sintered samples …”

“…Since first reported in 2010 by Cologna et al, 1 flash sintering has been demonstrated to be an innovative technique to densify ceramic compacts at low temperatures in very short time. [2][3][4][5] In a typical flash sintering experiment, the sample is connected to an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power supply and the electric field is directly applied to the sample, then the sample is heated in an ordinary furnace. At a critical combination of furnace temperature and electric field, the conductivity of sample rises rapidly and therefore the current flowing through the sample increases abruptly, which is controlled by switching the power supply from voltage control to current control in order to avoid thermal runaway.…”

“…In addition, it is believed that the flash-sintered 3YSZ/ Al 2 O 3 -platelet composites would have the improved properties due to the finer grain size compared to the conventionally sintered samples. [2][3][4] In this work, 3YSZ/Al 2 O 3 -platelet composites with the fine grain sizes are prepared using the flash sintering under DC electric field. The influence of electric field and current limit on the densification and grain growth of sample is investigated.…”