Annealing :

A process in which the material is thermally treated to release stresses produced

during the ceramic-forming process. In glasses, annealing stabilizes the glass structure to
produce homogeneous material and to avoid property variation from region to region.
Calcination :
A ceramic process that involves converting metal salt precursors, such as
carbonates, oxalates, alkoxides, sulfates, nitrates, and acetates or oxides, into desired
crystalline oxides or other monoxide single or multi component compounds. The variables
involved in this process include temperature, pressure, gaseous atmosphere, and
calcination time. The variables determine the crystallinity, grain, size, and other physical
properties of the final material. For example, when basic magnesium carbonate (MgCO3)
is calcined at 550°C, a pseudo morphed MgO is formed, whereas when calcination is
performed at 900°C, crystalline MgO (approaching cubic) is produced. In another example,
BaCO3 and TiO2 are calcined at 1100°C to form perovskite BaTiO3.
Sintering:
The process of densifying a polycrystalline or amorphous body with or without the aid of a
liquid phase. In the sintering process, the compacted ceramic is heated close to
the solidus (melting temperature) to effectively bond the grains in the compacted powder
for maximum density. Extensive studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of
pore sizes and shapes, grain sizes and shapes, and porosity on the sintering process and
the properties of the densified material