An Experimental Apparatus for Modeling the Processes of Electric Spark Plasma Sintering

An experimental apparatus was developed and manufactured to simulate the processes of electric spark plasma sintering. The apparatus allows direct observation and high-speed video recording of chains of powder particles in the channels of a dielectric matrix when passing short pulses of electric current. Tests performed using chains of titanium spherical particles with a diameter of up to 300 mu m as an example showed the significant overheating of the contact area at the moment of transmission of a short (similar to 1 ms) electric current pulse that is characteristic of spark plasma sintering. Thus, the developed methodology and installation provide the ability to study the mechanisms of modern technologies for the consolidation of powder materials based on pulsed electricity.