Modeling spark plasma sintering of zirconia with prediction of final stage high densification rate

In this study, the SPS of 0.1 mu m zirconia has been performed and shows high densification rate behavior in the final stage. This work consists of modeling the densification behavior of this powder especially at the intermediate/final stage transition. To model this, a Master Sintering Curve (MSC) is combined with an analytic model to identify the activation energy and the sintering moduli. The modeling of the behavior of the powder during the sintering tests is done via the Skorohod-Olevsky model. It appears from this study that the modeling of final stage sintering requires a regime transition to model the exceptionally high densification rate of the powder. The final stage grain growth seems not to decrease the final stage sintering kinetics.