Structure and properties of advanced materials obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering

This paper provides an overview of Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), which is an advanced technology for high-speed sintering of powder materials by applying mechanical pressure to the powder compact and heating it using a pulsed direct current. Some examples of the successful application of the SPS technology in producing materials with high strength characteristics are shown. By optimizing the SPS regimes, the hardness of pure WC ceramics Hv=30÷31 GPa (20% higher than that of conventional materials), hardness of pure Al2O3 ceramics Hv=23.5 GPa (50% higher than that of conventional materials) and limit strength of the heavy alloy W–Ni–Fe σT=2500 MPa (2 times higher than that of conventional materials) are achievable.