About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advancing the Frontier of Powder Materials Processing and Sintering: A MPMD/EPD Symposium in Honor of Eugene Olevsky
|
| Presentation Title |
Field Effects of Electric Field/Current Assisted Material Processing |
| Author(s) |
Wenwu Xu, Colin Delaney, Kyrel Polifrone, Sky Soltero, Thomas Grippi, Runjian Jiang, Elisa Torresani, Eugene Olevsky |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Wenwu Xu |
| Abstract Scope |
Electric field/current assisted sintering techniques, such as flash sintering, are transformative in processing ceramics by significantly reducing sintering temperatures and times. Traditionally attributed to Joule heating, emerging evidence highlights notable non-thermal effects of electric fields in enhancing diffusion and microstructural evolution. Using molecular dynamics simulations combined with experimental validation, this study examines the fundamental mechanisms underpinning the non-thermal field effects in flash sintering of yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ). Simulations reveal enhanced surface atom mobility and accelerated neck formation under electric fields independent of temperature increases. Experimental studies corroborate these findings, demonstrating anisotropic grain growth and densification phenomena distinct from purely thermal processes. Specifically, flash sintering of 8YSZ exhibited rapid grain boundary diffusion and orientation-dependent microstructural features directly attributable to field-induced electrochemical and electrothermal mechanisms. This work underscores the critical influence of non-thermal electric field effects, paving the way for optimized sintering protocols and novel material designs. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Process Technology, Powder Materials, Computational Materials Science & Engineering |