Promoting the flash sintering of ZnO in reduced atmospheres to achieve nearly full densities at furnace temperatures of <120 °C

Using ZnO as a model system, a strong dependence of the onset flash sintering temperature on the atmosphere has been discovered. In the best cases, ZnO specimens have been sintered to >97% relative densities (with fine grain sizes of ∼1 μm) in ∼30 s at furnace temperatures of <120 °C in Ar + 5 mol.% H2. The enhanced conductivities of ZnO powder specimens in reduced atmospheres are responsible for the substantial decreases of the onset flash sintering temperatures.

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