Spark-plasma-sintering and finite element method: From the identification of the sintering parameters of a submicronic alpha-alumina powder to the development of complex shapes

In the present paper, we studied the sintering of a submicronic alpha-alumina powder and modeled its behavior using Olevsky's model. We further introduced a method for the identification of the creep parameters based on SPS experiments that greatly simplify parameter determination. Subsequently, we used the set of parameters obtained to study the densification of a part with a complex shape. We clearly showed that the thickness shrinkage with different heights engender densification inhomogeneities. (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.