Pore deformation and grain boundary migration during sintering in porous materials: a phase-field approach

Abstract

Grain growth in porous ceramics is a complex process due to the variety of interactions between pores and grains. In this study, the pore deformation and grain boundary migration during porous ceramic sintering are simulated by the phase-field method, and the variety of diffusions during sintering is considered. Pores of different shapes and sizes are induced into the simulations to investigate the grain boundary migration and pore deformations during grain growth. Simulation results indicate that the porous microstructure is determined by the contacting mode between pore surface and grain boundaries, which is in good agreement with experimental observations. The efficiency of the grain boundary migration is analyzed via calculating the forces applied on the interfaces between grains and pores, and the mechanism of the pore deformation during grain boundary migration is discussed. Therefore, controlling the grain–pore microstructure by adjusting the synthesis process is essential to reach the desired mechanical and physical properties of sintered materials.