Fundamental investigations on the spark plasma sintering/synthesis process. II. Modeling of current and temperature distributions

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 394; no. 1-2; pp. 139 - 148
• Main Authors: ANSELMI-TAMBURINI, U, GENNARI, S, GARAY, J. E, MUNIR, Z. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 15.03.2005
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Materials synthesis; materials processing; Metal powders; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Temperature distribution; Heat source; Spark plasma sintering; Electrical conductivity; Synthesis; SPS; Spark plasma sintering method; Temperature and current distributions; Copper; Alumina; Modeling; Inorganic compound
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2004.11.019

Modeling and experimental analyses were carried out to investigate current and temperature distributions under typical spark plasma sintering (SPS) conditions. The simulation utilized two sample materials with widely differing electrical conductivities, alumina and copper. Current and heat generation gradients were evaluated in the radial and axial directions for both cases. Radial gradients result in significant differences in temperature between the surface of the graphite die and its center, in agreement with experimental measurements. Axial gradients are shown to influence the homogeneity of the product.