This proposal outlined a multitargeted approach to quantify and find the mechanisms of the previously observed enhancement of sintering of alumina and other oxide ceramics in high temperature plasmas through an extensive systematic investigation of sintering, defect structures and diffusion under otherwise identical plasma and non-plasma conditions. A universal sintering model will be exploited for quantitative comparison of plasma and non-plasma sintering. This model will be further developed as a more general tool to ultimately assist in prediction of sintering behavior, in or out of plasmas. %%%% This proposal expects to use the observed defect structure and their or evolutions during the sintering process as a means to trace the sintering mechanisms and their kinectics. Both the plasma and non-plasma sintering conditions will be used. Efforts will be made to make both sets of conditions nearly identical with the presence or absence of plasma as the only variable. Sintering model will be used to compare with the results. It will enhance the usefulness of the plasma sintering of ceramics.
