Origins of Low Electric Field Assisted Sintering of Ceramics

The proposed program will focus on the concept of transient state nonlinear mass transport and its experimental and theoretical analysis because what is now known as BMD is a transient effect governed by concurrently occurring processes such electrochemical and thermal diffusion. This focus will also enable us to find pathways to full density by exploiting cycling in the transient range while avoiding Joule heating. The ultimate deliverable of the proposed research program is a low temperature, ultra-low time sintering blueprint for oxide and nonoxide ceramics. The deliverable will enable one to impart nanostructure to any given ceramic system owing to the complete suppression of grain growth during densification, and drastic cuts in capital investment and processing costs associated with ceramics.