ANALYSIS OF INITIAL STAGE SINTERING BY COMPUTER SIMULATION.

Abstract

The sintering of a row of spherical particles is computer simulated by a method which eliminates geometric approximations. Results for neck growth, and the rate law exponent for evaporation-condensation, surface diffusion, volume diffusion and grain boundary diffusion have been simulated and compared with those obtained from integrated sintering equations by others. The result shows that significant errors could occur if geometrical approximations are involved. It also shows that the rate law exponent is dependent on variables like heating rate, sintering temperature and atmosphere.