Transient stresses in bimodal compacts during sintering

Abstract

A method is described and used to evaluate the transient stresses in a sintering compact of ZnO containing a hard, dense dispersion of SiC. A hard second phase can severely limit densification rates by generating a mean hydrostatic stress, σ h , which opposes the compressive sintering stress of the matrix. σ h rapidly increases with increasing volume fraction, ƒ, of the second phase. The interface stress, σ i ., at the ZnO SiC boundary increases with decreasing ƒ, σ i can attain large values, especially in the intermediate stage of sintering. The effect of these stresses on microstructural development is considered.