On densification mechanisms of ceramic particles during spark plasma sintering

Plastic deformation and viscous particle sliding are the main deformation mechanisms during densification of ceramic particles by spark plasma sintering (SPS). A recent densification model, where plastic deformation related to the high local pressures formed at the particle contacts during the SPS, was evaluated. The relative densities derived from the model are too low to explain the experimental densification results of nanocrystalline YAG. Viscous particle sliding can explain the difference. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.