Low-temperature formation of eutectic structures by reactive flash sintering of Al 2 O 3 –Y 2 O 3 composites
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Reactive flash sintering (RFS) has garnered significant interest because of the simultaneous synthesis/reaction and sintering of multicomponent ceramic materials. While electric fields demonstrably accelerate reaction kinetics during RFS, the reciprocal effect of reactions on flash sintering (FS) remains unknown. In this study, the role of the solid-state reaction in the onset of FS was investigated using Al2O3–Y2O3 and Al2O3–Y3Al5O12 (YAG) as models. The results show that the onset temperature of FS of Al2O3–Y2O3 is 350 °C lower than that of Al2O3–YAG under a constant electric field of 1000 V/cm. This demonstrates that the solid-state reaction significantly reduces the onset temperature, likely by enhancing the electrical conductivity of the sample. Remarkably, Al2O3–YAG ceramic composites with fine eutectic structures were prepared by RFS-ed Al2O3–Y2O3 at a furnace temperature of 850 °C, which is far below the eutectic temperature. The resultant eutectic ceramics exhibited mechanical properties comparable to those of conventionally solidified counterparts. RFS is expected to be an energy-efficient and sustainable sintering technology to fabricate high-performance eutectic ceramics.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced ceramic materials synthesis · Microwave Dielectric Ceramics Synthesis · Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (64)
Show source-provided references
1. EM Rabinovich. Preparation of glass by sintering. 1985, 20: 4259-4297.10.1007/BF00559317 ↗
2. RK Bordia. Current understanding and future research directions at the onset of the next century of sintering science and technology. 2017, 100: 2314-2352.10.1111/jace.14919 ↗
3. M Cologna. Flash sintering of nanograin zirconia in < 5 s at 850 °C. 2010, 93: 3556-3559.10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.04089.x ↗
4. M Cologna. Flash-sintering of cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia at 750 °C for possible use in SOFC manufacturing. 2011, 94: 316-319.10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.04267.x ↗
5. JSC Francis. Influence of the field and the current limit on flash sintering at isothermal furnace temperatures. 2013, 96: 2754-2758.10.1111/jace.12472 ↗
6. E Zapata-Solvas. Preliminary investigation of flash sintering of SiC. 2013, 33: 2811-2816.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.04.023 ↗
7. H Yoshida. Densification behaviour and microstructural development in undoped yttria prepared by flash-sintering. 2014, 34: 991-1000.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.10.031 ↗
8. F Trombin. Developing processing maps for implementing flash sintering into manufacture of whiteware ceramics. 2014, 93: 32-35.
9. YJ Li. Flash sintering of high-purity alumina at room temperature. 2023, 12: 2382-2388.10.26599/JAC.2023.9220816 ↗
10. ECF Silva. A comprehensive study on flash sintering of anatase and rutile polymorphs-containing titania nanopowder: Phase and microstructure development. 2025, 14: 9221062.10.26599/JAC.2025.9221062 ↗
11. M Biesuz. Flash sintering of ceramics. 2019, 39: 115-143.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.08.048 ↗
12. JL Liu. Research progress on the flash sintering mechanism of oxide ceramics and its application. 2022, 37: 473-480.10.15541/jim20210513 ↗
13. DG Liu. Effect of holding time on the microstructure and properties of flash-sintered Y 2 O 3 -doped ZrO 2 . 2016, 42: 17442-17446.10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.08.048 ↗
14. SK Jha. Phase transformation in the alumina–titania system during flash sintering experiments. 2016, 36: 733-739.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2015.10.006 ↗
15. E Gil-González. Phase-pure BiFeO 3 produced by reaction flash-sintering of Bi 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 . 2018, 6: 5356-5366.10.1039/C7TA09239C ↗
16. H Zhang. Reaction assisted flash sintering of Al 2 O 3 –YAG ceramic composites with eutectic composition. 2019, 45: 13551-13555.10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.03.196 ↗
17. B Yoon. Reactive flash sintering of ceramics: A review. 2023, 25: 2200731.10.1002/adem.202200731 ↗
18. LM Jesus. Ultrafast synthesis and sintering of materials in a single running experiment approach by using electric fields. 2019, 8: 265-277.10.1007/s40145-018-0313-1 ↗
19. B Yoon. Effects of powder dispersion on reactive flash sintering of 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia and MgAl 2 O 4 composites. 2020, 189: 117-121.10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.08.009 ↗
20. B Yoon. Reactive flash sintering: MgO and α-Al 2 O 3 transform and sinter into single-phase polycrystals of MgAl 2 O 4 . 2019, 102: 2294-2303.10.1111/jace.15974 ↗
21. Y Zhu. Electric field-assisted solid-state reaction of BaCO 3 –TiO 2 system. 2021, 104: 6572-6578.10.1111/jace.18027 ↗
22. PR Shi. An ultrafast synthesis method of LiNi 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 cathodes by flash/field-assisted sintering. 2018, 101: 4076-4083.10.1111/jace.15582 ↗
23. Q Zuo. The synthetic mechanism of LiCoO 2 from CoO and Li 2 CO 3 under electric field. 2025, 14: 9221105.10.26599/JAC.2025.9221105 ↗
24. DG Liu. Ultrafast synthesis of entropy-stabilized oxide at room temperature. 2020, 40: 2504-2508.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.01.018 ↗
25. HR Mao. Ultrafast densification of high-entropy oxide (La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2 ) 2 Zr 2 O 7 by reactive flash sintering. 2021, 41: 2855-2860.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.11.052 ↗
26. RR Ingraci Neto. The influence of the processing parameters on the reactive flash sintering of ZrO 2 –CeO 2 . 2022, 105: 3937-3948.10.1111/jace.18426 ↗
27. G An. Rapid preparation of Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 ceramics by reactive flash sintering of Bi 2 O 3 –NaCO 3 –TiO 2 mixed powders. 2022, 42: 1407-1413.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2021.11.053 ↗
28. B Yao. Sintering densification and microstructure formation of bulk Al 2 O 3 /YAG eutectic ceramics by hot pressing based on fine eutectic structure. 2016, 92: 213-222.10.1016/j.matdes.2015.12.017 ↗
29. JL Liu. Ultrafast formation of Al 2 O 3 –Y 3 Al 5 O 12 eutectic ceramic by flash sintering. 2020, 103: 4051-4056.10.1111/jace.17109 ↗
30. M Cologna. Field assisted and flash sintering of alumina and its relationship to conductivity and MgO-doping. 2011, 31: 2827-2837.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.07.004 ↗
31. M Biesuz. Theoretical and phenomenological analogies between flash sintering and dielectric breakdown in α-alumina. 2016, 120: 145107.10.1063/1.4964811 ↗
32. KS Naik. Field assisted sintering of ceramic constituted by alumina and yttria stabilized zirconia. 2014, 34: 2435-2442.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2014.02.042 ↗
33. S Yao. The onset mechanism of flash sintering in Al 2 O 3 –8YSZ composites. 2025, 14: 9221166.10.26599/JAC.2025.9221166 ↗
34. V Avila. Reactive flash sintering of the complex oxide Li 0.5 La 0.5 TiO 3 starting from an amorphous precursor powder. 2020, 176: 78-82.10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.09.037 ↗
35. YJ Yang. Flash sintering produces eutectic microstructures in Al 2 O 3 –LaPO 4 versus conventional microstructures in 8YSZ–LaPO 4 . 2021, 104: 3895-3909.10.1111/jace.17786 ↗
36. R Raj. Analysis of the power density at the onset of flash sintering. 2016, 99: 3226-3232.10.1111/jace.14178 ↗
37. SY Zhou. Phase-boundary assisted flash sintering of Al 2 O 3 –TiO 2 nanocomposites. 2026, 302: 121612.10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121612 ↗
38. JSC Francis. Particle size effects in flash sintering. 2012, 32: 3129-3136.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2012.04.028 ↗
39. XH Su. Influence of pre-sintering on the reactive flash sintering of high-entropy rare earth zirconate ceramics. 2026, 46: 117901.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117901 ↗
40. VB Gusshkova. Interactions of yttrium and aluminum oxide. 1983, 19: 80-84.
41. L Wen. Synthesis of nanocrystalline yttria powder and fabrication of transparent YAG ceramics. 2004, 24: 2681-2688.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2003.09.001 ↗
42. H Yoshida. Reduction in sintering temperature for flash-sintering of yttria by nickel cation-doping. 2016, 106: 344-352.10.1016/j.actamat.2016.01.037 ↗
43. DG Liu. Effect of the current density on the densification of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia in flash sintering. 2020, 825: 154061.10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.154061 ↗
44. A Larrea. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al 2 O 3 –YSZ and Al 2 O 3 –YAG directionally solidified eutectic plates. 2005, 25: 1419-1429.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2005.01.021 ↗
45. F Sun. Formation of eutectic microstructure in Al 2 O 3 –GdAlO 3 –ZrO 2 ceramics by flash sintering. 2022, 48: 16455-16460.10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.03.189 ↗
46. Y Aoki. Formation of Al 2 O 3 –GdAlO 3 eutectic ceramics with a fine anisotropic structure in a flash event. 2023, 106: 3336-3342.10.1111/jace.19012 ↗
47. S Yao. Effect of the Al 2 O 3 content on the microstructure evolution of flash-sintered Al 2 O 3 –8YSZ ceramics. 2023, 16: 100468.10.1016/j.oceram.2023.100468 ↗
48. GX Liu. Asymmetric temperature distribution during steady stage of flash sintering dense zirconia. 2018, 38: 2893-2896.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.02.012 ↗
49. X Xu. Formation of eutectic structure in dense Al 2 O 3 –YAG composite by electric field treatment. 2021, 47: 23647-23652.10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.04.264 ↗
50. HF Liu. Formation mechanism and roles of oxygen vacancies in melt-grown Al 2 O 3 /GdAlO 3 /ZrO 2 eutectic ceramic by laser 3D printing. 2022, 11: 1751-1763.10.1007/s40145-022-0645-8 ↗
51. R Raj. Joule heating during flash-sintering. 2012, 32: 2293-2301.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2012.02.030 ↗
52. GM Jones. Promoting microstructural homogeneity during flash sintering of ceramics through thermal management. 2021, 46: 59-66.10.1557/s43577-020-00010-2 ↗
53. R Chaim. Reactive flash sintering (RFS) in oxide systems: Kinetics and thermodynamics. 2021, 56: 278-289.10.1007/s10853-020-05320-z ↗
54. J LLorca. Directionally solidified eutectic ceramic oxides. 2006, 51: 711-809.10.1016/j.pmatsci.2005.10.002 ↗
55. D Kok. α-Alumina and spinel react into single-phase high-alumina spinel in < 3 seconds during flash sintering. 2019, 102: 644-653.10.1111/jace.15927 ↗
56. C Shen. Micromechanical properties and microstructures of AC and DC flash-sintered alumina. 2023, 866: 144631.10.1016/j.msea.2023.144631 ↗
57. JL Liu. The onset mechanism of flash sintering dense 8YSZ. 2025, 1: 9580011.10.26599/MAS.2025.9580011 ↗
58. XH Su. Rapid fabrication of oxygen-deficient zirconia by flash sintering treatment. 2024, 13: 1881-1890.10.26599/JAC.2024.9220976 ↗
59. YJ Yang. Mechanical properties of Al 2 O 3 –LaPO 4 composites with eutectic microstructure produced by flash sintering. 2024, 107: 3028-3044.10.1111/jace.19634 ↗
60. JY Pastor. Mechanical properties of melt-grown alumina–yttrium aluminum garnet eutectics up to 1900 K. 2005, 88: 1488-1495.10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00265.x ↗
61. Y Nie. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al 2 O 3 /YAG eutectic ceramic grown by horizontal directional solidification method. 2016, 657: 184-191.10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.10.089 ↗
62. HJ Su. Rapid solidification behaviour of Al 2 O 3 /Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG) binary eutectic ceramic in situ composites. 2008, 479: 380-388.10.1016/j.msea.2007.06.080 ↗
63. D Zhao. Densification and microstructural evolution of bulk Al 2 O 3 –Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG) eutectic ceramic fabricated by spark plasma sintering. 2019, 45: 12337-12343.10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.03.151 ↗
64. X Wang. Mechanical properties of directionally solidified Al 2 O 3 /Y 3 Al 5 O 12 eutectic ceramic prepared by optical floating zone technique. 2018, 38: 3610-3617.10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.04.017 ↗