A Study on Sintering Properties of a SiC-ZrB2Composite According to Mold Size of SPS Through Computer Simulation

The computer simulation was performed to confirm distribution of current and power density according to inner diameter of graphite mold of SPS(Spark Plasma Sintering). When the inner diameters of a graphite mold are varied 10㎜Φ, 20㎜Φ, 30㎜Φ and 40㎜Φ, the more the inner diameter of graphite mold is decreased, the more the current density of punch section is increased. Because the electrical resistivity of the SiC-ZrB₂ specimen section(7.77×10?⁴ Ωㆍ㎝) was lower than the electrical resistivity(6.00×10?³ Ωㆍ㎝) of graphite section, the current density and power density of specimen section was higher than those of graphite section. It is considered that a SiC-ZrB₂ composite is sintered by more Joule heat of specimen section than that of mold and punch section. The current and power density distribution of a SiC-ZrB₂ composite can be predicted through computer simulation when SPS is conducted, and an electrical resistivity of the SiC-ZrB₂ composite is main element of SPS.