Enhanced Sintering Rate of Zirconia (3Y-TZP) Through the Effect of a Weak dc Electric Field on Grain Growth

We show, for the first time, that a dc electric field of 20 V/cm shifts the densification curve to a lower temperature in constant heating rate experiments with yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia powder (3Y-TZP). The enhanced sintering rate is ascribed, at least in part, to the reduced rate of grain growth under the applied field, consistent with earlier experiments on the influence of such fields on grain size in superplastic deformation and isothermal grain growth in zirconia polycrystals.