Sintering is a process of forming solid by use of pressure or heat without reaching the liquefaction point (PMR, 2016). Sintering occurs through a manufacturing process or a natural process. Sintering is used as a manufacturing process when a company is dealing with ceramics, metals or plastics. The natural process of sintering occurs during the deposit of minerals. Sintering does not allow the temperatures to rise up to the melting point of the material undergoing the process.
The atoms of the materials undergoing sintering diffuse from within the particles to the exterior of the particles and fuse with the atoms of the neighboring particles so as to create a large solid mass (Lu, 2014). The process of diffusion enables the formation and growth of necks along the contact points of the particles (PMR, 2016). Sintering is the preferred method for those materials that have high melting points because it does not require liquefaction. Examples of such materials are molybdenum and tungsten.
Sintering can be observed in some normal activities in the society. A good example is the formation of a snowball. Loose snow is pressed together to form a snowball. Another example is seen when ice cubes in water stick to each other. Another good example can be observed where snowfall attaches itself to a glacier.
The effectiveness of sintering is achieved when porosity is reduced and the properties of the materials enhanced (Ginley & Cahen, 2011). The properties of the materials that need to be improved so as to increase the effectiveness of sintering include electrical conductivity; thermal conductivity; strength; and translucency. An increase in the strength of the materials undergoing sintering enables the particles to stick together in a stable manner.
References
PMR, (2016). Sintering in the Powder Metallurgy Process. Powder Metallurgy Review. Retrieved from: http://www.ipmd.net/Introduction_to_powder_metallurgy/Sintering
Lu, K., (2014). Materials in Energy Conversion, Harvesting, and Storage. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Ginley, D. S. & Cahen, D., (2011). Fundamentals of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability. New York: Cambridge University Press.
