Fabrication of Bulk Ceramics by High-Gravity Combustion Synthesis

Abstract

Both single-phase and multiphase bulk ceramics were prepared by high-gravity combustion synthesis via melt solidification instead of conventional powder sintering. The synthesis process included three steps, namely, combustion reaction, phase separation, and melt solidification. In these steps, phase separation played a key role in producing bulk ceramic materials with high purities and low porosities. It was demonstrated that, in a high-gravity field the phase separation was greatly accelerated, compared with the case under common gravitational condition. In comparison with powder sintering, high-gravity combustion synthesis requires no furnace and can reduce the processing time for the fabrication of bulk ceramic materials.