LIQUID-PHASE SINTERING UNDER MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS

Liquid-phase sintering routinely is used to form dense composite struc tures. The technique is generally restricted to high solid contents to ensure rigidify of the compact to achieve net shaping. Experimental c onditions present during microgravity processing have allowed liquid-p hase sintering over a wider range of liquid-solid ratios than possible on Earth. Early results from experiments performed on the space shutt le Columbia during 1994 are used to show the novel behavior associated with microgravity conditions.