Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is a sophisticated process used to create high-density materials with controlled microstructures.
What are the Stages of Spark Plasma Sintering? (3 Key Phases Explained)
1. Plasma Heating
The SPS process begins with plasma heating.
Pulsed DC current is applied to the material.
This leads to electrical discharges between powder particles.
These discharges create localized and momentary heating of the particle surfaces.
The temperatures can reach several thousands of degrees Celsius.
Micro-plasma discharges form uniformly throughout the sample volume.
This ensures that the heat generated is evenly distributed.
The high-temperature environment purifies and activates the particle surfaces.
Impurities are vaporized, preparing the particles for fusion.
2. Particle Fusion
Following the purification and activation of the particle surfaces, the next stage involves the melting and fusing of these surfaces.
The high temperatures cause the purified surface layers of the particles to melt.
This forms "necks" between adjacent particles.
This process of surface fusion is crucial for the initial consolidation of the powder into a cohesive structure.
3. Densification
The final stage of SPS is densification.
The consolidated structure is further compacted under mechanical pressure.
The combination of rapid heating and the application of pressure facilitates the sintering process.
This allows for the achievement of high densities in a short time.
This stage is also characterized by the inhibition of particle growth.
This helps in maintaining a fine-grained microstructure.
The high sintering energy and the localized nature of the high temperatures ensure that the internal grains of the particles do not grow excessively.
This is beneficial for controlling the grain size of the sintered body.
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