Rupture of contacts in nonisothermal sintering

In the process of sintering of real compacts of metallic powders an important role is assigned to various contact phenomena whose kinetic features determine the physical properties of the sintered materials. The attendant growth of contacts between particles in isotlhermal holding has been studied fairly thoroughly. However, in nonisothermal regime (heating, cooling) the contacts may be ruptured, and this, as a rule, is accompanied by volumetric changes. This effect, which is not only of theoretical interest but is also important from the practical aspect in the production of parts with controlled properties, was given less attention.