Spark plasma sintering microscopic mechanisms of metallic systems: experiments and simulations

International audienceThe microscopic densification mechanisms of metallic systems (TiAl, Ag-Zn) by spark plasma sintering (SPS) have been studied by simulations and experiments. Finite element simulations showed that, despite very high current densities at the necks between metallic powder particles (≈ 5×10 4 A/cm 2), only very limited Joule overheating can be expected at these locations ( 1000 A/cm 2) on diffusion kinetics. Consequently, densification by SPS occurs by classical mechanisms not affected by the current