THE INFLUENCE OF A PARTIALLY WETTING SECOND PHASE ON THE SINTERING OF SOLID PARTICLES

Abstract

A geometrical model is considered which describes the sintering kinetics between two solid, spherical particles covered by a partially wetting second phase. Conditions selected are such that the grain boundary is not penetrated by the second phase. The model is kinetically similar to the case of solid-state sintering by grain-boundary diffusion and can also be compared with Kingery’s model of liquid-phase sintering. It predicts that the sintering rate of two solid particles remains virtually unchanged when a second phase (solid or liquid) is added. An example is the sintering behaviour of SmCo5. The applicability of the model to carbide-metal and oxide-metal systems is discussed.