Direct observation of sintering mechanics of a single grain boundary

• Published in: Acta materialia Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 507 - 516
• Main Authors: Wakai, F., Fukutome, H., Kobayashi, N., Misaki, T., Shinoda, Y., Akatsu, T., Sone, M., Higo, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Coefficients; Computer simulation; Exact sciences and technology; Grain boundaries; Grain boundary diffusion; Metals. Metallurgy; Micromachining; Micromechanical modeling; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Simulation; Sintered metals and alloys. Pseudo alloys. Cermets; Sintering; Three dimensional; Translational motion; Simulation; Sintering; Micromechanical modeling; Microstructure; Powder metallurgy; Modeling; Grain boundary
• ISSN: 1359-6454; 1873-2453
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2011.10.003

A method to analyze the mechanics of sintering of a single grain boundary was developed by using specimens fabricated by focused ion beam micro-machining. The translational motion and rotation of particles in sintering are influenced by the grain boundary diffusion coefficient and grain boundary energy; both are dependent on crystallographic orientation. Three-dimensional computer simulation was used to analyze the shrinkage and rotation as a response to sintering force and torque, respectively. The model experiments on gold were compared with the simulation results to determine the depth of the cusps on the plot of grain boundary energy vs. misorientation angle, the grain boundary diffusion coefficients, and the surface diffusion coefficient.