Open AccessThe agglomeration, coalescence and sliding of nanoparticles, leading to the rapid sintering of zirconia nanoceramics
Author(s) -
Andraž Kocjan,
Manca Logar,
Zhijian Shen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-017-02760-7
Subject(s) - sintering , materials science , economies of agglomeration , cubic zirconia , coalescence (physics) , crystallite , nanoparticle , surface diffusion , grain growth , ceramic , nanoceramic , surface energy , composite material , metallurgy , chemical engineering , grain size , nanotechnology , chemistry , adsorption , physics , organic chemistry , astrobiology , engineering
Conventional sintering is a time- and energy-consuming process used for the densification of consolidated particles facilitated by atomic diffusion at high temperatures. Nanoparticles, with their increased surface free energy, can promote sintering; however, size reduction also promotes agglomeration, so hampering particle packing and complete densification. Here we show how the ordered agglomeration of zirconia primary crystallites into secondary particle assemblies ensures their homogeneous packing, while also preserving the high surface energy to higher temperatures, increasing the sintering activity. When exposed to intense electromagnetic radiation, providing rapid heating, the assembled crystallites are subjected to further agglomeration, coalescence and sliding, leading to rapid densification in the absence of extensive diffusional processes, cancelling out the grain growth during the initial sintering stages and providing a zirconia nanoceramic in only 2 minutes at 1300 °C.