Pore growth during initial-stage sintering

A quantitative model for pore growth during initial-stage sintering is prop osed, During initial-stage sintering, neck formation leads to surface round ing of the pores, thereby causing a decrease in the surface area of the sys tem. The decrease in surface area, without a concomitant decrease in pore v olume, leads to a spurious increase in pore size, as calculated by the gas adsorption technique. Geometrical calculations predict a final pore size th at is a function of the initial (green) density of the compact. For the 62% dense compacts of the present study, the model predicts a factor of 1.28 i ncrease in pore size, compared to the factor of 1.27, which is experimental ly observed. Interestingly, a common, constant factor of 1.27 can also be o bserved in pore growth data reported by a number of other researchers.