An experimental setup for shrinkage evaluation during electric field-assisted flash sintering: Application to yttria-stabilized zirconia

Analyses of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy plots and dilatometric curves of ZrO2:Y2O3 (YSZ) green compacts upon sintering show the possibility of choosing the shrinkage level of the green pellet by passing a current flash through the interparticle regions. The experiments consisted on inserting a YSZ green compact in a dilatometer sample holder, connecting either to a power supply or to an impedance analyzer, and monitoring the shrinkage upon sintering with and without applying an ac voltage in the 800-1000 degrees C temperature range. This procedure allows taking the sample from the first to the second sintering stage in few seconds without the occurrence of significant grain growth. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.