Computer simulation of free settling and skeletal settling during liquid phase sintering

Abstract

In recent years, a range of computer simulation models leading to a better understanding of liquid phase sintering phenomena, have been developed with the aim of simulating the detailed evolution of microstructure during grain growth. Some liquid phase sintered materials show both macrostructural and microstructural effects associated with gravity force. Therefore we will develop a numerical procedure for the estimation of how much gravity will influence domain (two-dimensional particle representation) growth, domain boundary migration and solid skeleton formation due to gravity induced segregation during liquid phase sintering. The method used for the simulation of a gravity field will be based on the settling procedure. Gravity induced settling will be separated into two stages - Free Settling and Skeletal Settling. Isolated solid phase domains fall under gravity and slide down over the already settled domains (free settling). During settling they make point contacts with each other. Necks between them then form and start to grow until the equilibrium dihedral angle between the domain boundaries and the liquid is established. Thus a solid skeleton forms and skeletal settling of a connected solid structure takes place. .

Keywords

• liquid phase sintering
• free settling
• skeletal settling
• computer simulation