Coordination number changes during powder densification

The number of touching neighbors for each particle, known as the coordination number, increases with densification. Models for coordination number versus compact density differ significantly. Some treatments of powder consolidation ignore coordination number changes during densification, others inappropriately assume ordered packing, and others apply linear interpolations from loose random to full density. The minimum coordination, evident when gravitational forces are relatively weak, such as with nanoscale powders is about 3 contacts per particle. Larger particles with relatively strong gravitational forces randomly pack to about 6 to 7 contacts at fractional densities near 0.58 to 0.64. Terminal, full density structures converge to grains with an almost 14 contacting neighbors. The link between coordination number and density is critical to mathematical treatments in sintering, pressure-assisted consolidation, and compaction. Further, properties such as compact strength or electrical conductivity depend on the coordination number. Data collected over a wide range of experiments lead to a generalized relation between the coordination number and the square of the fractional solid density, providing a simple but accurate relation for embedding in powder consolidation calculations. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.