This paper has established that the cold sintering process is the ideal technique to decarbonise ceramic manufacturing.
Professor Reaney, Head of AREC USA, collaborated with Professor Clive Randall from Pennsylvania State University and Professor Lenny Koh Head of AREC Global, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of different ways of sintering ceramics, to establish which had the best energy-saving potential.
The process of sintering is by heating compacted powder to form a dense solid mass and represents one of the most energy-intensive parts of manufacturing.
The paper shows that CO2 emissions and energy consumption for ceramic manufacturers could be considerably reduced by using the Cold Sintering Process (CSP), the paper also presented that implementing this was the most cost-effective, low-carbon way of sintering ceramics.
Professor Reaney’s paper forms a strong framework for the introduction of CSP to the manufacturers, with the opportunity for it to achieve its full potential and move from laboratory testing to industry use.
Professor Reaney speaking about his findings, commented: “CSP is a remarkable technique that was first developed at the Pennsylvania State University. Our research however unambiguously establishes CSP as the go-to densification method in ceramic manufacturing for energy reduction and decarbonisation”.
Professor Randall also commented, “The collaboration with Professor Reaney’s group at the University of Sheffield has clearly demonstrated that CSP is the way forward for low energy, low carbon-ceramic manufacturing”.
Details of the research can be found in the paper published in the Journal of the European Ceramics Society.