Spark plasma sintering of intermetallics and metal matrix composites

Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) or Field Assisted Sintering (FAST) is an innovative sintering technol. with increasing importance for the prepn. of several materials including composites and functionally graded materials. The process is based on hot pressing with an application of a pulsed elec. current instead of using an external heating source. Due to the pulsed elec. current and the so called "spark plasma effect" very high heating rates and short processing times can be realized. Therefore grain growth can be inhibited and materials with submicrometre or nanosized microstructures or composites with unique compns. can be prepd. leading to improved properties. This presentation will initially discuss special process features like temp. measurement and temp. distribution between die and sample. Afterwards examples of spark plasma sintered intermetallics and metal matrix composites are displayed. Microstructure and properties will be compared with those of conventionally sinter