Discrete Element Simulation of the Sintering of Composite Powders

  • Martina, C. L. (Laboratoire GPM2, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble) ;
  • Olmos, L. (Laboratoire GPM2, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble) ;
  • Schneiderb, L. C. R. (Laboratoire GPM2, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble) ;
  • Bouvardc, D. (Laboratoire GPM2, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble)
  • Published : 2006.09.24

Abstract

The free sintering of metallic powders blended with non sintering inclusions is investigated by the Discrete Element Method (DEM). Each particle, whatever its nature (metallic or inclusion) is modeled as a sphere that interacts with its neighbors. We investigate the retarding effect of the inclusions on the sintering kinetics. Also, we present a simple coarsening model for the metallic particles, which allows large particles to grow at the expense of the smallest.

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