Plasma Sintering of Ceramics

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The objective of the study is to develop the science base required for succesful plasma sintering of ceramics. The approach taken is to explore the plasma parameters-RF vs. microwave, gases, dopants, steady-state vs. pulsed power input, etc., the interaction of the plasma with the material surface and the sintering kinetics as functions of the plasma parameters, specimen composition, heating rates, etc. The potential of plasma sintering could be extremely great, and this technique could be very important to the global economic competitive position of the United States, if it can be developed for ceramics of technical interest such as aluminun oxide, zirconium oxide, etc. It offers the potential for extremely high sintering rates for certain geometry products-i.e., thin walled tubes, small diameter rods, leading to very high production rates and possibly unique microstructures, as a result of the rapid sintering process.