Flash sintering is a novel densification technology for ceramics, which allows a dramatic reduction of processing time and temperature. It represents a promising sintering route to reduce economic, energetic and environmental costs associated to firing. Moreover, it allows to develop peculiar and out-of-equilibrium microstructures.

The flash process is complex and unusual, including different simultaneous physical and chemical phenomena and their understanding, explanation and implementation require an interdisciplinary approach from physics, to chemistry and engineering. In spite of the intensive work of several researchers, there is still a wide debate as for the predominant mechanisms responsible for flash sintering process.

In the present review, the most significant and appealing mechanisms proposed for explaining the “flash” event are analyzed and discussed, with the aim to point out the level of knowledge reached so far and identify, at least, possible shared theories useful to propose future scientific activities and potential technological implementations.

闪速烧结是一种新颖的陶瓷致密化技术，可显着减少加工时间和温度。它代表了一种有希望的烧结路线，可以减少与烧结相关的经济，能源和环境成本。此外，它允许开发特殊的和不平衡的微结构。

闪速过程是复杂且不寻常的，包括不同的同时发生的物理和化学现象，它们的理解，解释和实现需要从物理学到化学和工程学的跨学科方法。尽管有几位研究人员进行了艰苦的工作，但对于造成快速烧结过程的主要机理仍存在着广泛的争论。

在当前的审查中，分析和讨论了为解释“闪电”事件而提出的最重要和最有吸引力的机制，目的是指出迄今为止所掌握的知识水平，并至少确定可能对提出未来有用的共享理论。科学活动和潜在的技术实施。