Pore Evolution During Glow Discharge Sintering of Alumina

A series of experiments have been performed to demonstrate the applicability of small-angle neutron scattering to the study of pore evolution during sintering. Samples of α-Al₂O₃ which had been zone sintered in a hydrogen hollow cathode glow discharge to densities exceeding 94% of theoretical were employed in these preliminary measurements. The neutron scattering results indicate that densification during the final stages of glow discharge sintering occurs primarily through a reduction in the number of pores present with only a small change in the average pore size.