Ca3Co4O9 ceramics consolidated by SPS process: Optimisation of mechanical and thermoelectric properties

Ca3Co4O9 (349) thermoelectric (TE) oxide ceramics were successfully prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering process. The effects of the uniaxial pressure (30–100 MPa), the dwell temperature (700–900 °C) and the cooling rate were investigated. Microstructure analyses have revealed strong enhancements of the bulk density as the pressure level and the applied temperature during the SPS process are increased. Mechanical properties were investigated by using instrumented nanoindentation and three point bending tests. Hardness, elastic modulus, strength and fracture toughness were shown to improve drastically and depend on the processing parameters. Thermal expansion measurements reveal a noticeable anisotropy induced by unidirectional hot pressing. The mechanical, thermal and thermoelectric properties were correlated to the microstructure and crystallographic texture of the resulting ceramics.