Surface Diffusion-Controlled Neck Growth Kinetics in Early Stage Sintering of Zirconia, with and without Applied DC Electrical Field

We report on the measurements of neck growth in early stage sintering of yttria-stabilized zirconia powders with and without the application of electrical fields. It is concluded that surface diffusion kinetics are not influenced by the application of DC electrical fields and currents. These measurements are in contrast to the influence of electrical fields on grain growth, where weak applied fields have been shown to significantly retard grain growth. The activation energy for surface diffusivity obtained in this way is in the range that is expected from literature values. Together, these results provide further insights into relationships between electrical fields and interfacial phenomena in the sintering and grain growth of ceramic materials.