Liquid phase sintering, I: Computer study of skeletal settling and solid phase extrication in a normal gravity environment

Abstract

In this paper we will investigate gravity induced skeletal settling during liquid phase sintering. In this approach skeletal settling will be combined with extrication of some solidphase domains. The main goal will be the need to relate dissolution, diffusion and precipitation phenomena to essential geometric and topological changes of the tungstennickel porous microstructure influenced by differential skeletal settling due to large density difference between tungsten domains and the matrix. This study will be based on domain topology (no shape restriction) and control-volume methodology. The microstructural evolution will be simulated by computation of displacement of the center of mass (combined gravity induced settling and random motion) and mass transport due to dissolution and precipitation at the interfaces between solid-phase and liquid matrix.

Keywords

• liquid phase sintering
• skeletal settling
• solid phase extrication
• gravity