The low-temperature sinterability of TiO2-CuO systems was investigated using a solid solution of SnO2. Sample powders were prepared through conventional ball milling of mixed raw powders. With the SnO2 content, the compositions of the samples were Ti1-xSnxO2-CuO(2 wt.%) in the range of x  0.08. Compared with the samples without SnO2 addition, the densification was enhanced when the samples were sintered at 900oC. The dominant mass transport mechanism seemed to be grain-boundary diffusion during heat treatment at 900oC, where active grain-boundary diffusion was responsible for the improved densification. The rapid grain growth featured by activated sintering was also obstructed with the addition of SnO2. This suggested that both CuO as an activator and SnO2 dopant synergistically reduced the sintering temperature of TiO2.

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Experimental
3. Results and Discussion
    3.1 The solution effect of SnO2 in TiO2-CuO(2wt%)sample
    3.2 Densification
    3.3 Microstructure Evolution
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgement
References

• Ju-Won Lee(The Center of Biomedical Materials and Biotechnology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Andong National University, Andong Kyungbuk, 36729, Republic of Korea)
• Kyung-Sik Oh(The Center of Biomedical Materials and Biotechnology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Andong National University, Andong Kyungbuk, 36729, Republic of Korea)
• Tai-Joo Chung(The Center of Biomedical Materials and Biotechnology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Andong National University, Andong Kyungbuk, 36729, Republic of Korea)
• Yeong-Kyeun Paek(The Center of Biomedical Materials and Biotechnology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Andong National University, Andong Kyungbuk, 36729, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author