A topological view point of sintering in Ex-gel-c-(th, 5%U)0 sub(2)

Topological properties are more general than metrical ones. They are related physically with what can happen, and the metrical ones with how can happen. If all what can happen is not identified, the explanation of how things happen will be difficult. In most cases this problem is not faced, because the topological properties of a physical system are not modified. But this is not case of sintering, where its description based only on metrical properties may be complex. In this paper, the topological structures and transformations observed during sintering are identified with the help of very simple ideas and used to explain a complex sintering case of (Th,5%U)O sub(2) microspheres. (author)