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Comparison of apparent activation energies for densification of alumina powders by pulsed electric current sintering (spark plasma sintering) and conventional sintering—toward applications for transparent polycrystalline alumina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2017

Michael Stuer ,
Claude Paul Carry ,
Paul Bowen  and
Zhe Zhao
Michael Stuer
Affiliation:
Powder Technology Laboratory, Material Science Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Claude Paul Carry*
Affiliation:
SIMAP, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble 38 000, France
Paul Bowen*
Affiliation:
Powder Technology Laboratory, Material Science Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Zhe Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Ceramic Technology Division, Stockholm SE-10044, Sweden
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: paul.bowen@epfl.ch
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Abstract

In the quest for high real in-line transmittances for transparent polycrystalline alumina (PCA), we need defect free processing. One of the biggest advances in producing high density defect free ceramics over recent years has been the advent of spark plasma sintering (SPS) or pulsed electric current sintering. The production of PCA with high transmittances >60% has been demonstrated, but the mechanisms behind this fast, pressure aided sintering method are still much debated. Here, we investigate the sintering of doped α-alumina powders using traditional and pulsed electric current dilatometry. We demonstrate that at the final sintering stage, there is no major difference in the sintering mechanisms between conventional sintering and SPS sintering. High densification rates occurring in SPS are shown to be related to powder reorientation at the very early sintering stage and viscous-flow dominated densification in the intermediate sintering cycle. This paper clarifies what parameters in the processing–sintering domain have to be improved for even higher real in-line transmittances for PCA.

Keywords

oxidesinteringoptical properties
Type
Invited Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 17: Focus Issue: Achieving Superior Ceramics and Coating Properties through Innovative Processing , 14 September 2017 , pp. 3309 - 3318
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Eugene Medvedovski

References

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