Pressureless Spark Plasma Sintering: A Perspective from Conventional Sintering to Accelerated Sintering Without Pressure

Abstract

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been an attractive technique for many researchers seeking to consolidate metals and ceramics. This technique’s high heating rates with the support of simultaneous applied pressure result in highly densified materials. One of the most important effects of a high heating rate is the limitation of grain growth, which results in enhanced mechanical properties. Recently, a relatively new form of SPS with its own unique advantages was developed and is most commonly referred to as pressureless spark plasma sintering (PSPS). There has been an increase in the usage of this method in several applications such as porous material production, sintering of materials with a finer grain structure, and consolidation of green bodies in a short time. Although there have been many studies on PSPS, there is currently no review of the pressureless applications of SPS. This paper provides a link from SPS to PSPS and discusses the different applications in some detail.