Liquid Phase Sintering - Densification and Formation of Microstructure.

On the basis of new results the three most important stages of densification during liquid phase sintering, i. e. , particle rearrangement, reprecipitation from solution, and skeleton sintering, are treated critically. Those developments which since the establishment of W. D. Kingery's theory have led to an improved understanding of the basics of the process are emphasized. Particle rearrangement is described as a function of the force which a melt-bridge between adjacent particles exerts on these particles. In addition to contact flattering, other solution-reprecipitation processes contribute to shrinkage during the second sintering stage. Skeleton sintering is not different from solid state sintering. Microstructural coarsening during liquid phase sintering, which is very important from the technological point of view, is discussed on the basis of Ostwald ripening and coalescence.