Spark Plasma Sintering

Schematic representation of the SPS technique
Schematic representation of the SPS technique: the powder is inserted in the graphite die and electrical current and pressure are applied to the sample to allow the sintering or the bonding of different materials. 
TT_Sinter machine and a detail of the graphite press during the process in the vacuum chamber

The Spark Plasma Sintering technique, also known as also known as field assisted sintering technique (FAST) is the most promising technology under investigation by the LARAMED group for the preparation of thick (from 300 µm) target for radionuclide production. 100Mo, 52Cr and 89Y  targets for 99mTc, 52Mn and 89Zr production, respectively were already tested in medical cyclotron. 

The versatility of this non-conventional sintering technique allows the sintering of metal and oxide materials starting from powder, in very short time. Moreover, it is possible to obtain good adhesion between the target material and a backing to realize a target system that fulfils the main requirements for a suitable cyclotron target (i.e., no losses of the expensive material, a uniform and optimized layer thickness; a high chemical purity level; a high heat transfer effectiveness; good mechanical properties; and easy handling).  
ZnO and Gd2O3 targets are under investigation in the framework of CUPRUM_TTD and APHRODITE-155 project, respectively for the production of 67Cu and 155Tb in medical cyclotron.
A dedicated machine TT_Sinter was developed in collaboration with University of Pavia and INFN Pavia for further studies with different materials and configurations

Example of target manufactured by SPS technique: 100Mo on Au/Cu, 52Cr on Au/Nb, natY on Nb, 70ZnO and 155Gd2O3 targets.

SPS advantages:

  • High Tm material sintering
  • Starting materials: powder or foils
  • Adhesion of different materials
  • High efficiency: no loss of isotope-enriched materials during manufacturing
  • More information can be found here:
  • Cisternino, S.; Kotliarenko, A.; Martini, P.; Piteo, G.; Porto, F.; Speltri, G.; Marvelli, L.; Pigato, M.; Cazzola, E.; Boschi, A.; et al. Spark Plasma Sintering in Manufacturing and Recycling of ZnO Targets for Medical Radioisotopes Cyclotron-Based Production. Ceramics International 2025, doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.04.262.
  •  Cisternino, S.; Haddad, F.; Kotliarenko, A.; Sounalet, T.; Wang, Y. PRISMAP Deliverable D10.1 – Report on Gd Target Production. 2024, doi:10.5281/zenodo.11110642.Cisternino, S.; Sciacca, G.; El Idrissi, M. ; Anselmi-Tamburini, U.; Bortolussi, S.; Gennari, C.; Calliari, I. Production of Medical Radionuclides: Spark Plasma Sintering Technique for Cyclotron Solid Target Manufacturing. La Metallurgia Italiana 2022, n.11/12 Novembre-Dicembre 2022, 24–30. https://issuu.com/aimnet3/docs/aim_novembre-dicembre 2022_paginesingole/24.
  • Cisternino, S.; Cazzola, E.; Skliarova, H.; Amico, J.; Malachini, M.; Gorgoni, G.; Anselmi-Tamburini, U.; Esposito, J. Target Manufacturing by Spark Plasma Sintering for Efficient 89Zr Production. Nuclear Medicine and Biology 2022, 104–105, 38–46, doi:10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2021.11.004.
  • H. Skliarova, S. Cisternino, G. Cicoria, E. Cazzola, G. Gorgoni, M. Marengo, J. Esposito. Cyclotron solid targets preparation for medical radionuclides production in the framework of LARAMED project. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1548 (2020) 012022. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1548/1/012022
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