Flash sintering is a novel technique that allows obtaining high-density ceramics at low temperatures and short dwell times, thus providing an energy-efficient alternative to conventional sintering. The microstructure of...

Article history: Received 8 November 2017 Received in revised form 3 December 2017 Accepted 3 December 2017 Available online xxxx This viewpoint article critically assesses several scientific and technological questions regarding flash sintering: (1) How does a flash start? (2)What are the possiblemechanisms of rapid densifications? (3)What are the electric field/current/potential effects? (4) ...

The dissipated electric power in oxide powder compacts, subjected to flash sintering, is several hundreds of W·cm-3. This power is analyzed considering local softening/melting and transient plasma/liquid formation at the particle contacts due to thermal runaway. The sudden increase in compact electric conductivity and dissipated power referred to current percolation through the softening/liquid...

The effect of high-frequency (HF) electric fields on the crystallization and sintering rates of a lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP) ion conducting ceramic was investigated. LAGP with the nominal composition Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 was crystallized and sintered, both conventionally and under effect of electrical field. Electrical field application, of 300 V/cm at 1 MHz, produced up to a ...