By optimizing the heating rate during spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) processing, a high-strength transparent spinel (MgAl2O4) can be successfully fabricated for only a 20-min soak at 1300 °C. For the heating rates of ≤10 °C/min, the spinel exhibits an excellent combination of in-line transmission (50–70%), four-point-bending strength (>400 MPa), and hardness (>15 GPa). The excellent optical and mechanical properties can be ascribed to the superimposed effects of the sub-micrograin size, fine-pore size, and low porosity, which are related closely to the heating rate during the SPS processing. The present study demonstrates that to attain a high-strength transparent spinel at low temperatures and short sintering times, the low-heating-rate SPS processing is more efficient compared with the high-heating-rate SPS processing.

The microstructure in a small amount of Al2O3-doped Y2O3-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) sintered at 1100–1650 °C was examined to clarify the effect of Al3+ ions segregated at grain boundaries on cubic-formation and grain-growth processes. The sintering rate in Y-TZP was remarkably enhanced by Al2O3-doping. In addition, at temperatures >1500 °C, grain growth remarkably proceeded, and the fraction of the cubic phase increased in comparison with that of undoped Y-TZP. High-resolution electron microscopy and nanoprobe x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements revealed that no amorphous layer existed along the grain-boundary faces in Al2O3-doped Y-TZP and that Y3+ and Al3+ ions segregated at grain boundaries over widths of ∼10 and ∼6 nm, respectively. At 1100 °C, Al3+ ions started to segregate at grain boundaries, and the segregation peak of Al3+ ions increased as the sintering temperature increased. Cubic-formation and grain-growth behaviors in Al2O3-doped Y-TZP were reasonably interpreted by taking into account the effect of Al3+ ions segregating along grain boundaries.

The creep deformation in fine-grained polycrystalline Al2O3 is highly suppressed by the addition of 0.1 mol% LuO1.5. The transient creep behavior in Lu-doped Al2O3 was examined at the testing temperature of 1250–1350 °C, and the data were analyzed in terms of the effect of stress and temperature on the extent of transient time and strain. The experimental data on the transient creep in Lu-doped Al2O3 showed good agreement with the prediction from a time function of the transient and the steady-state creep associated with grain boundary sliding as well as an undoped one. The difference in the transient creep between Lu-doped and undoped Al2O3 can also be explained by the retardation of grain boundary diffusion due to the Lu3+ ions segregation in the grain boundaries.