Far from equilibrium ultrafast high‐temperature sintering of ZrO2–SiO2 nanocrystalline glass–ceramics

Abstract Ultrafast high‐temperature sintering (UHS) is a novel sintering technique with ultrashort firing cycles (e.g., a few tens of seconds). The feasibility of UHS has been validated on several ceramics and metals; however, its potential in consolidating glass–ceramics has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, an optimized carbon‐free UHS was utilized to prepare ZrO 2 –SiO 2 nanocrystalline glass–ceramics (NCGCs). The phase composition, grain size, densification behavior, and microstructures of NCGCs prepared by UHS were investigated and compared with those of samples sintered by pressureless sintering. Results showed that NCGCs with a high relative density (～95%) can be obtained within ～50 s discharge time by UHS. The UHS processing not only hindered the formation of ZrSiO 4 and cristobalite but also enhanced the stabilization of t‐ZrO 2 . Meanwhile, owing to the ultrashort firing cycles, the UHS technology allowed the NCGCs to be consolidated in a far from equilibrium state. The NCGCs showed a microstructure of spherical monocrystalline ZrO 2 nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous SiO 2 matrix.