Microstructure evolution and sintering kinetics of ZnO

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyse the sintering kinetics and microstructure evolution of ZnO. Powder was isothermally sintered (15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes) in the temperature range from 800 to 1200oC. The values of Lenel parameter were used to analyze both densification and mass transport processes. Scanning electron microscopy was performed in order to determine the microstructure evolution and dependence of average grain size on temperature and time of sintering. These results will enable development of new phenomenological equations that can be applied in analyses of sintering kinetics.