Determine whether plasma is generated during spark plasma sintering

Determine whether plasma is generated during the Spark Plasma Sintering process, thereby resolving the mechanism responsible for the reported cleansing action and particle connection during NiTi powder compaction.

Background

Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is described as a powder-compaction technology in which pulsed current and voltage generate heat within a vacuum chamber. The paper attributes a possible cleansing action and promotion of particle connection to plasma generation during the process.

The existence of plasma in SPS is explicitly identified as unresolved, with the authors citing studies that debate the absence of plasma in “spark plasma sintering.” Resolving this issue would clarify the physical mechanism underlying densification and microstructural evolution in SPS-fabricated NiTi and related materials.