Sintering of Ceramics

Catalog description

Design and interpretation of ceramic microstructures through an understanding of the physics and chemistry of sintering and grain growth. MATSE 552 Sintering of Ceramics (3) This course is about the processing of ceramic-based materials by sintering processes. Sintering is the thermal processing of a porous material which results in a decrease in surface free energy, strengthening and usually densification. The first half of the course covers the thermodynamics, mechanisms, kinetics, and models for densification. The theory of grain growth and coarsening processes are also discussed. The relations between densification and grain growth are discussed as they influence microstructure evolution. Tools for characterizing sintering and grain growth processes are reviewed. Practical applications of sintering for the manufacture of ceramic-based components ranging from low temperature co-fired ceramics to transparent ceramics are discussed.