Abstract Scope |
Typical ceramic sintering temperatures occurs at 0.5 to 0.95 of the melting temperatures (Tm), in oxides; we conventionally sinter around 800 to 1800 oC. This lecture reviews various chemical pathways, and variables such as pressure, temperature, and time that enable the cold sintering processes to occur at low temperatures. Using model systems, it is possible to contrast the energetics and mechanisms with conventional sintering processes regarding densification and grain growth kinetics. With the introduction of a cold sintering strategy, a common processing platform ~ 200 oC enables the integration of multiple materials that permits new types of composites and devices to be designed. The power of such design versatility will be demonstrated with number of functional ceramics and multilayer devices impacting a broad number of applications. Beyond the successful examples, the many challenges and opportunities of cold sintering will also be discussed, including the vision of a sustainable cyclic economy. |