Fast Densification of Ultra‐High‐Temperature Ceramics by Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

This work investigated suitability and efficacy of the sintering technique known as spark plasma sintering to produce ultra‐high‐temperature‐based Hf and Zr borides. Ceramic–matrix composites in the systems HfB 2 –SiC, ZrB 2 –MoSi 2 , and ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC were processed by spark plasma sintering and hot pressing. The effects of processing were evaluated comparing the materials microstructure and properties. Compared with hot‐pressing technique, spark plasma sintering offers the great advantage to fabricate successfully in short time (i.e., cuts in costs) poorly sinterable powder compositions without the help of any sintering activators.