Abstract
Reproducible ceramic component manufacturing requires controlling ceramic materials and processing. Sintering is a key process in ceramic manufacturing, as it largely determines the microstructure and properties of a finished part. The master sintering curve (MSC) represents a science-based technology to predict and control densification during sintering. MSC theory has been validated on systems that densify by solid-state, liquid-phase, and viscous sintering. Additionally, MSCs have been determined for systems that undergo isotropic and anisotropic densification. The concept of the MSC is simple enough to be easily implemented on the manufacturing floor, yet it is firmly rooted in fundamental sintering science. MSC theory has been used to design time-temperature profiles to reliably achieve a given sintered density, and as a quality control tool to verify materials and processing reproducibility. The master curve concept also has been applied to the decomposition of organics, which provides the potential to optimize the entire firing process.
