Noteworthy differences between vertical and horizontal sintering of ceramic samples.

Sintering of ceramics is known to suffer from homogeneity issues (of phase, microstructure, etc.). The present work aims to provide a simple solution for the same via positioning the sample vertically during conventional sintering. Via vertical sintering, we present two different case studies (with doped-ZrO 2 and La 2 Ce 2 O 7 systems) and illustrate two distinct benefits; e.g., restricting the formation of an otherwise deleterious monoclinic phase in zirconia bodies, and ensuring uniform in-plane texture development on both sides of the ceramic. In each case, the issues observed in the horizontally placed ceramic have been explained in connection to the heat transfer in the ceramic body. Discrepancies in heat transfer resulted in variations in grain orientation and size (mean, median, and cumulative size distribution), eventually leading to different phase developments and texture. This small adjustment (of the positioning of ceramic bodies) may be beneficial at an industrial scale; especially with samples having a large length/diameter ratio. [Display omitted] • Crucial dependence of positioning of ceramic samples during conventional sintering. • Doped-ZrO 2 and La 2 Ce 2 O 7 ceramic was chosen for the case studies. • Vertical sintering resulting in uniform texture and control phase-purity. • Horizontal sintering depicted abundant monoclinic-ZrO 2 phases. • Discrepancies noted for in-plane texture of horizontally sintered La 2 Ce 2 O 7 ceramic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]