The mechanical behaviour of sintering powder compacts

Micromechanical models for the sintering of Powders are described and macroscopic constitutive equations are derived from them. While the first model can be regarded as the sintering of long wires the second one is based on a three dimensional arrangement of grains with an open pore space in thermodynamic equilibrium. The dominating transport mechanism supporting densification and creep is assumed to be grain boundary diffusion in both cases. Results of sinter forging experiments are presented and compared to theoretical predictions. The implementation of constitutive equations into a finite element code offers the possibility of simulating the experiments as well as the sintering of ceramic components of complex shape.