Mass transport in low-temperature ceramic sintering and printing assisted by pressure and water

Ceramic processing through the combined use of pressure and water offers a promising approach to achieve accelerated mass transport between ceramic particles at reduced temperatures, providing a sustainable and low-temperature method for ceramic synthesis and three-dimensional printing. While previous studies have explored the roles of pressure and water in the fusion and densification of ceramic particles, the underlying mechanisms, especially for micro-sized ceramic particles, are still debated. This paper aims to propose a potential mechanism for the fusion and densification of micro-sized ceramic particles under the effect of pressure and water. Using a multi-phase level-set simulation model, our results suggest that stress-assisted fracture and dissolution of interparticle contact points can be key factors driving the densification of micro-sized ceramic particles in the presence of pressure and water.