Plasma Activated Sintering (PAS)-A Novel Manufacturing Consolidation Process for Advanced Powder Materials

摘要

Abstract. We have investigated several aspects of the recently discovered method for rapid consolidation referred to as Plasma Activated Sintering (PAS). The unique features of this process are that no prior cold pressing or green state preparation is required, compaction is achieved in seconds to minutes, and the final product retains almost the same grain size as the size of the starting powders. The capability to retain the initial metastable structure in the final product is of special interest to new materials such as nanophase structures or special ceramic powders for which a final grain size becomes critical for future applications. The main objectives of last year work were aimed at a better understanding of densification mechanisms, electrical field effects, special ceramic and nanocrystalline powder densification.