Cold sintering process for ZrO2‐based ceramics: significantly enhanced densification evolution in yttria‐doped ZrO2. Issue 2 (24th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Hanzheng; Guo, Jing; Baker, Amanda; Randall, Clive A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Ceramic Society. Volume 100:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 491
• Page End: 495
• Publication Date: 2016-10-24
• Subjects: sinter/sintering -- yttria stabilized -- zirconia; Ceramics -- Periodicals; 620.1405
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.14593
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7820

Abstract

Abstract: We recently developed a novel technique of cold sintering process (CSP) to obtain dense ceramics at extraordinarily low temperatures. In this communication, we demonstrate the feasibility of applying CSP to zirconia‐based ceramics. As exemplified by 3Y‐TZP ceramics, a significantly enhanced densification evolution is observed. Water is simply utilized as a sintering aid to assist the ceramic densification under an applied external pressure. The low‐temperature advantage of CSP outstands in contrast to the densification curves compiled from other sintering techniques. A gradual monoclinic‐to‐tetragonal phase transformation is revealed in correspondence to the densification development, as well as contributes to the mechanical hardness evolution. A Vickers Hardness reaches ~10.5 GPa after annealing the cold‐sintered ceramics at 1100°C, which is comparable to those values reported in the previous studies at higher sintering temperatures. Such a sintering methodology is of significant importance as it provides a roadmap for cost‐effective processing of zirconia‐based ceramics and composites that enable broad practical applications.