Sol-gel synthesis and sintering of submicronic copper molybdate (α-CuMoO4) powders

Ceramics were prepared using conventional sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques. A maximal relative density of 94.8% was reached after conventional sintering at 520 °C for 2 h. In the case of SPS, the densification was optimized by varying the temperature, the time and the applied pressure. Higher densities, up to 98.7%, were obtained at very low temperature, i.e., 300 °C, for 5 min only under a pressure of 225 MPa.