Spark Plasma Sintering of Metals and Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

Dear Colleagues,

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a rapid sintering technique combining the simultaneous use of a pulsed direct current with a uniaxial pressure to consolidate powder materials. This technique has attracted considerable attention in the last two decades due to the advantages that it offers over other more conventional sintering process. The main improvements of SPS are the shorter sintering times needed to obtain highly dense bulk materials with limited grain growth. Therefore, this technique is particularly suitable to process nanostructured materials with good densification and outstanding mechanical properties. In recent years, it has been widely applied to sinter many different advanced materials such as intermetallic compounds, hard metals, ceramics, metal matrix composites (MMC), and metallic alloys.

This Special Issue will address and gather the advances achieved in different metals and metal matrix nanocomposites processed by SPS, from both experimental and theoretical (modelling and simulation) perspectives. In particular, articles from the academic community or industry including advanced microstructural and mechanical characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, FIB, EBSD, TKD, EELS, AFM, APT, tomography, nanoindentation tests, in situ mechanical tests, small punch tests, etc.) assessing processing–structure–properties relationships are welcome. Articles related to the sintering of parts with a complex shape are also desirable.

Dr. Andrea García-Junceda
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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