Liquid phase sintering

On the basis of new result the three most important stages of densification during liquid phase sintering, i.e. particle rearrangement, solution-reprecipitation, and skeleton sintering are treated critically. Those developments which since the establishment of 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 particles. In addition to contact flattening 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. (orig.)