Spark Plasma Sintering 

is a laboratory device designed for new, effective and innovative research, development and production of nano/micro composite ceramic and metal materials prepared from powder sintering method in the presence of plasma - Spark Plasma Sintering. The lasted trend is called functionally graded materials (FGM) - layers with different specific properties such as abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, specific insulation, the use of higher operating temperatures and the like.

Main technical data:

SPS, model HP D10-SD (FCT Systeme GmbH, Germany)

Hydraulic press with a force of 10 tons [5 - 100 kN]
Max. temperature of 2200 °C, the heating rate 5 - 1000 K/min.
Pulsed DC power source to 5500 A at a voltage 7.2 V
Max. continous power rating of 37 kW
The pulse duration 1...255 ms, the break duration 0...255 ms
Process gases - argon, nitrogen (max. 5 bar)
Vacuum in cold oven  5x10^-2 mbar

 Characteristics of produced sintered materials:

• the diameters of the samples may be in the range from 10 up to 70 mm
• thickness of the sample can be up to 5 mm
• small grain size - nanocomposite materials
• very short sintering times of 1 - 20 minutes

 Examples of production of sintered materials:

• metals: W, Mo, Cr, Ru, Si, Cu
• intermetallic materials: TiAl, Ni₃Al, PbTe, SmCo₅
• carbides: WC, B₄C, SiC, TiC, ZrC, nitrides: AlN, TiN, Si₃N₄, hBN
• MMC/CMC materials for armor: B₄C, SiC, ZrB₂, TiB₂, Al₂O₃ (+CNT)
• transparent materials: spinel, Al₂O₃
• nano-structured materials, functionally graded materials
  

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IMR SAS
Watsonova 47, 040 01 Košice
Tel.: +421-55-7922 453
Fax: +421-55-7922 408
www.imr.saske.sk