Abstract:

The SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) process is a new materials synthesis processing technology recently developed by Sumitomo Coal Mining Co.Ltd.,
Japan. Some oxides such as Al₂O₃, Y-TZP, YAG, Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ and Mullite were successfully superfast densified by SPS under the conditions
of heating rate as high as 600℃/min, no keeping time at the sintering temperatures above 1200℃, and then fast cooling to 600℃
within 3 minutes. The superfast sintering samples show high densities, fine microstructures and excellent mechanical properties. The fracture toughness K_1c
of 20mol% Al₂O₃-ZrO₂(3Y) samples sintered by SPS at >1250℃ for 2 min is higher than 6MPa·m^1/2. The reaction sintering of ZrO₂-
mullite could be completed by SPS at 1530℃ for 3 min.The SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) process is a new materials synthesis processing technology recently developed by Sumitomo Coal Mining Co.Ltd.,
Japan. Some oxides such as Al_2O_3, Y-TZP, YAG, Al_2O_3-ZrO_2 and Mullite were successfully superfast densified by SPS under the conditions
of heating rate as high as 600℃/min, no keeping time at the sintering temperatures above 1200℃, and then fast cooling to 600℃
within 3 minutes. The superfast sintering samples show high densities, fine microstructures and excellent mechanical properties. The fracture toughness K_1c
of 20mol% Al₂O₃-ZrO₂(3Y) samples sintered by SPS at >1250℃ for 2 min is higher than 6MPa·m^1/2. The reaction sintering of ZrO₂-
mullite could be completed by SPS at 1530℃ for 3 min.

Key words: superfast densification, spark plasma sintering, oxide ceramicssuperfast densification, spark plasma sintering, oxide ceramics