Inversion defects in MgAl2O4 elaborated by pressureless sintering, pressureless sintering plus hot isostatic pressing, and spark plasma sintering

The distribution of inversion defects of Al was investigated in dense magnesium-aluminate spinel elaborated by pressureless sintering, pressureless sintering plus hot isostatic pressing, and spark plasma sintering, This study was conducted by energy electron loss spectroscopy analyses and more particularly by energy loss near edge structure investigations of the Al-L-2,L-3 edge. Several aspects are discussed with the purpose of understanding why charged defects dispersal reveals a special configuration. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.