Rapid ceramic processing techniques and equipment

A process for sintering a bilayer, the process comprising:

• unwinding a bilayer roll to provide a bilayer;
• heating the bilayer comprising a green body layer disposed on a metal layer in a furnace at about 1100° C. to about 1300° C. for about 5 seconds to about 3 minutes at a heating rate of higher than 300° C./min;
• thereby providing a sintered bilayer comprising a lithium-stuffed garnet layer on the metal layer;
• wherein the bilayer has a thickness, after sintering, of between about 10 μm and about 50 μm;
• wherein the bilayer moves through the furnace at a rate between about 2 centimeters/minute and 100 centimeters/min;
• and
• wherein the furnace comprises an atmospheric controller that maintains an atmosphere in the furnace that comprises argon (Ar) gas;
• nitrogen (N2) gas;
• hydrogen gas;
• or a mixture thereof.