LAUSR

Abstract Doping effect of 1 mol% divalent, trivalent or tetravalent cations on the flash sintering of Y2O3 was investigated under DC electric fields ranged from 0 to 1000 V cm−1. The examined dopants were Mg2+, Sr2+, Al3+, La3+, Si4+, Ge4+ and Zr4+. The cation-doped Y2O3 specimens showed flash sintering at the DC fields greater than 300 V cm−1. The onset temperature for the flash event in the Y2O3 depended on the doped cations; the onset temperature was reduced by doping the divalent cations, while that was increased by the trivalent or tetravalent cations-doping. The flash sintered, Al3+, Ge4+ or Si4+-doped Y2O3 bodies showed the relative density of greater than 98 %, and exhibited translucency. These cations decreased the electric conductivity of the Y2O3 green bodies, resulting in the relatively great electric power dissipation and enhanced diffusional mass transport during the flash event.