Aspects of modern development of the processes researches with the use of pulsating electric current for the sintering activation (Review)

Abstract

The analysis of state-of-the-art in area of sintering processes researches with the use of pulsating electric current, in particular spark plasma sintering (SPS) was conducted. This method had next advantages: shorter time of consolidation; enhanceable power efficiency of the process; minimization of material losses because of evaporation and undesirable phase transformations; braking of the grain growth; low level of impurities content on the borders and in the volume of grains; higher density and finer grain size in the sintered simples; high heating rate. Convincing evidences that specify on absence of plasma in the SPS conditions were presented. Time diagram and pulse-repetition frequency did not have influence on a consolidation, grain growth, mass transfer and microstructure of the sintered simples.