Science of Flash-sintering and Innovation to Sintering Technology

Abstract

When the ceramic green compacts are heated with electric fields, the specimen electric current increases steeply at a certain critical furnace temperature. This phenomenon is called a flash event, and along with this phenomenon, sintering process complete immediately. Flash sintering is a new sintering method that uses this flash event. Various kinds of researches have been reported since Raj et al. found the flash sintering. In addition, some new phenomena induced by the application of electric fields have been pointed out, for example, the change in the point defect configuration due to electric fields. Recently, photo luminescence emission has been found, which is closely related to point defects generated by electric fields during flash event. In this report, we would like to summarize the outline of flash sintering method and to review our recent researches.