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High Pressure (HP) in Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Processes: Application to the Polycrystalline Diamond
Jérémy Guignard1, Mythili Prakasam1, Alain Largeteau1
1CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ICMCB, UMR 5026, University of Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2022
Summary
This study introduces Ultra High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (UHP-SPS) for creating binderless polycrystalline diamond (PCD). UHP-SPS achieves successful sintering at lower temperatures and pressures than traditional methods, offering a more efficient process.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- High-Pressure Physics
- Powder Metallurgy
Background:
- Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is a key technology for advanced material processing.
- High-Pressure (HP) techniques combined with SPS enable novel material synthesis.
- Binderless polycrystalline diamond (PCD) processing traditionally requires specific High Pressure-High Temperature (HP-HT) setups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an innovative Ultra High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (UHP-SPS) equipment.
- To process binderless polycrystalline diamond (PCD) using the novel UHP-SPS equipment.
- To investigate the feasibility of sintering diamond powder without additives under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel UHP-SPS equipment combining a Belt-type high-pressure apparatus with a conventional pulse electric current generator.
- Employed non-graphite molds with enhanced mechanical properties for processing up to 6 GPa.
- Sintered diamond powder (0.75-1.25 μm and 8-12 μm grain sizes) at 4-5 GPa and 1300-1400 °C for 5-30 minutes.
Main Results:
- Successfully consolidated diamond particles without additives, forming grain boundaries.
- Achieved sintering of binderless PCD at significantly lower P-T conditions compared to conventional HP-HT methods (~10 GPa and 500-1000 °C lower).
- Demonstrated the capability of the UHP-SPS cell design for processing various diamond grain sizes.
Conclusions:
- UHP-SPS is a highly effective method for sintering binderless PCD under optimized conditions.
- The developed UHP-SPS technology offers a promising alternative to conventional HP-HT processes for diamond synthesis.
- This approach holds potential for sintering other high-pressure materials and industrial transfer with reduced environmental impact.
