Synthesis of Fully Dense Anatase TiO2 Through High Pressure Field Assisted Rapid

High density bulk nanostructured TiO2 was prepared through densification of anatase nanopowder by the high-pressure field-assisted rapid sintering method in the temperature range 600-1000 degrees C, under a uniaxial pressure of 620 MPa. In these sintering conditions samples characterized by a grain size between 40 and 150 nm have been obtained. Nearly full densification was observed for temperatures above 700 degrees C, while phase transition towards the rutile phase was observed in samples sintered at temperatures >= 800 degrees C. It was therefore possible, for the first time, to completely retain the anatase phase in bulk high-density samples.