Fundamental Studies of Grain Boundary Wetting and De-wettingin Ceramics

本研究的目的是探讨力的本质 在陶瓷烧结过程中颗粒之间。的性质 力决定了粒子和 它们的晶界是湿的，而且液相 可以在致密化后从陶瓷中排除。具体 该项目的目标是确定是否粒子在一个 烧结液体被静电充电，并确定 粒子之间的力/分离函数。这项工作将 主要在氧化锆基陶瓷上进行。结果 有望为我们的基本 了解陶瓷的液相烧结， 控制晶界的润湿以优化 目前实用的陶瓷受到晶间相的限制。

The goal of this research is to investigate the nature of forces between particles during sintering of ceramics. The nature of the forces determines the conditions under which the particles and their grain boundaries are wet and, also, whether the liquid phase can be rejected from the ceramic after densification. The specific objectives of the project are to establish whether particles in a sintering liquid are electrostatically charged and to determine the force/separation function between particles. The work will primarily be carried out on zirconia based ceramics. The results are expected to contribute significantly towards our fundamental understanding of liquid phase sintering of ceramics and aid in the control the wetting of grain boundaries to optimize properties of practical ceramics presently limited by intergranular phases.