Sintering of zirconia ceramics using microwave and spark heating techniques

The paper presents the results of an complex study of structural and mechanical properties of zirconia ceramics sintered using different techniques. The samples were sintered via the conventional method of heating, in the field of microwave radiation and spark plasma. The experimental data indicates that a microwave field and spark plasma have a stimulating effect on zirconia ceramics sintering. In contrast to the microwave sintering, spark plasma sintering provides ceramics with improved properties at similar time-temperature annealing modes. Moreover, the properties of the ceramics under spark plasma sintering at T=1300 °C are similar to the properties of the ceramics sintered in a microwave field at T=1400 °C. (paper)