Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.94, No.2, 316-319, 2011
Flash-Sintering of Cubic Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia at 750 degrees C for Possible Use in SOFC Manufacturing
We show that cubic 8 mol% yttria (8YSZ) can be sintered at 750 degrees C with the application of DC electrical fields; in comparison the lowest sintering temperature for 3YSZ was 850 degrees C. Furthermore, cubic zirconia exhibits the onset of flash sintering at 30 V/cm, whereas 3YSZ begins flash sintering at 60 V/cm. However, the volume specific power dissipation for the onset of flash sintering remains similar at similar to 10 mW/mm3. The easier sintering of 8YSZ is ascribed to its higher ionic conductivity.