Two-step pulsed electric current sintering of transparent Al2O3 ceramics

Fully densified Al2O3 ceramics with fine grain size were obtained by pulsed electric current sintering through a two-step heating profile (referred to as TS-PECS). Highly transparent Al2O3 polycrystals with fine grain size (400 nm) were successfully fabricated by the TS-PECS process, namely, sintering at 1000 degrees C for 1 h and followed at 1200 degrees C for 20 min under uniaxial pressure of 100 MPa. Effects of the first step temperature and heating rate were discussed for bulk density, grain size and transparency. The temperature in the first step strongly affects densification and grain growth of Al2O3. On the other hand, heating rate, even of 100 K min 21, in TS-PECS does not give significant influences on densification and grain growth of Al2O3. Inline transmittance at 640 nm in wavelength normalised to 1 mm in thickness is increased by decreasing heating rate even in TS-PECS.