Preparation of Transparent Nanoceramics by Suppressing Pore Coalescence

Microstructural developments in nanoceramics were investigated in 3Y-TZP compacts with relative density (RD) exceeding 93%. Special attentions were paid to the evolutions of pore structures. It was found that the densification process of nanoceramic compacts with apparently close porosity was greatly jeopardized by pore coalescence. This observation was interpreted by the coalescence of locally interconnected pores originated from inhomogeneous packing of particles. The pore coalescence can be suppressed by application of an external pressure. The processing principle was demonstrated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) with extended holding at a minimized sintering temperature. The highly dense 3Y-TZP nanoceramics containing no large pores became optically transparent.