SINTERING OF ALUMINUM NANOPARTICLES - A MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS STUDY

Molecular-dynamics simulations have been used to study the consolidati on of nanoparticles of aluminum. We have studied two- and three-partic le sintering as it is influenced by temperature, particle size and cry stallographic orientation. We have elucidated the dominant transport m echanisms by measuring the shear stresses that develop in the contact regions and the mobilities of the surface and core atoms during sinter ing. Our studies demonstrate that increasing the particles size slows down the sintering kinetics. The extent of interpenetration of the par ticles is independent of the particle size and is a function of the te mperature of the particles. (C) 1998 Acta Metallurgica Inc.