Use of the spark plasma sintering technique for the synthesis of dense mineral aggregates suitable for high-pressure experiments

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel sintering technique, called spark plasma sintering, that we apply for the synthesis of mineral aggregates used for experimentation. We show how dense polycrystalline aggregates of forsterite Mg₂SiO₄ and MgO mixed in various proportions can be obtained within minutes and with limited grain growth. Finally, we briefly mention the high-pressure experiments we performed with such samples.

Keywords:

• spark plasma sintering
• forsterite
• polycrystalline aggregates
• high pressure

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank C. Estournès, G. Raimbeaux and G. Chevallier of the Plateforme Nationale de Frittage Flash (PNF2) of the CIRIMAT laboratory (Univ. Paul Sabatier, Toulouse) where we performed our SPS experiments and N. Canal who helped in the preparation and observation of a few samples. This research was made possible by funding from the 2008 and 2009 SEDIT programme at INSU.