Sintering of heterogeneous glass powder compacts

Abstract

A modification of Scherer's Self-Consistent model and a new model, the Interlocking Cell model, have been developed to characterize the sintering behavior of mixtures of two glass powders. The theoretical sintering curves predicted by both these models are compared to each other and to experimental densification behaviors. Viscosities extrapolated from homogeneous sintering curves of sol-gel derived powders are transient and cannot be predicted based on composition alone. These transient viscosities have a significant effect on the sintering kinetics. The Self-Consistent and Interlocking Cell models assume very different microstructural changes during sintering. However, differences between the two models can just be distinguished using experimental densification curves of sol-gel cordierite based glass mixtures.