Flash self‐joining of Y‐TZP ceramics assisted with an AC electric field
Kohta Nambu, Taisuke Kitaoka, Koji Morita, Kohei Soga, Tomoharu Tokunaga, Takahisa Yamamoto, Hiroshi Masuda, Hidehiro Yoshida
Abstract
Abstract In this study, flash joining experiments were conducted using an AC field on 3 mol% Y 2 O 3 ‐stabilized tetragonal ZrO 2 polycrystal (Y‐TZP) bodies. Furthermore, the necessary conditions to obtain an almost complete self‐joining of Y‐TZP bodies were clarified. The specimens were successfully joined by applying an AC field at 60 mA mm −2 for 80 s at a furnace temperature of 1000°C, thus resulting in a successfully joined specimen with 92% of the flexural strength of the as‐sintered Y‐TZP body. Almost complete self‐joining of Y‐TZP was achieved at current densities above 30 mA mm −2 , and input energy densities of >24 J mm −3 . Both the input energy density and electric current were critical factors for producing the reliable joining of ceramics.