On the simulation of spark plasma sintered TiB2 ultra high temperature ceramics: A numerical approach

Abstract Spark plasma sintering is a novel sintering technique in manufacturing of ultra high temperature ceramics. Temperature distribution during sintering process controls microstructure and consequent thermomechanical properties of manufactured samples. Therefore, temperature distribution in the spark plasma sintering of TiB2 is investigated numerically in this work. A pulsed direct electrical current was applied during sintering process and current density distribution as well as generated heat, as a result of Joule heating effect, were obtained at each point. The thermoelectrical governing equations were solved by finite element method. The obtained temperature contours showed that the heat generation rate is higher at the sample camped to the die, so the heat flow is from the sample center toward the die and finally the soroundings. The obtained results showed a uniform temperature distribution in the sample, so that a maximum temperate difference with respect to the sample center was 75 °C at the sample/die interface at the sintering temperate of 2200 °C. This uniformity is one of the advantages of spark plasma sintering which results in a uniform microstructure in the as sintered sample.