New Open Access Publication: Al₂O₃-Y₃Al₅O₁₂-ZrO₂ Composites via Spark Plasma Sintering

We are pleased to announce that our latest research paper, “Fabrication of Al₂O₃-Y₃Al₅O₁₂-ZrO₂ Composites by Single-Step Spark Plasma Sintering,” has been published in the Journal of the European Ceramic Society. This work, authored by M. Vakhshouri, A. Talimian, A. Najafzadeh, Á. Gallardo-López, R. Poyato, F. Gutiérrez-Mora, and D. Galusek, is the result of a fruitful international collaboration with the University of Seville, Spain.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2025.117358

Research Highlights

This study presents an innovative approach to fabricating Al₂O₃-Y₃Al₅O₁₂-ZrO₂ ceramic composites with a lamellar eutectic microstructure using a single-step spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Key findings include:

• Successful production using sol-gel synthesized powders
• Controlled plasma formation during SPS, leading to eutectic liquid formation
• Tailorable microstructure by adjusting the calcination process

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia under:
🔹 Project No. 09I03-03-V04-00196 
🔹 Project No. 09I01–03-V04–00014/2024/VA (GlaScratch project)

We extend our gratitude to our collaborators and funding agencies for making this work possible.