Simulation of Anisotropic Sintering of Elliptical Particles by Combined PFM/DEM Approach

Abstract

Anisotropic shrinkage of powder compacts is often observed in sintering process. Although controlling the shape and size of the sintered body is important to reduce manufacturing cost, it is difficult to understand the factors affecting anisotropic behavior only by experimental observation. In the present study, two-dimensional numerical simulation for sintering process of elliptical particles is performed with changing particle alignment and orientation by using a combined phase-field method (PFM) and discrete element method (DEM). The effects of the size of inter-particle contact plane, the sintering force, and the pore configuration on sintering anisotropy are examined. According to the calculated results, anisotropic shrinkage appears depending on the particle arrangement. The elliptical particles oriented horizontally enhance the horizontal shrinkage. The inter-particle contact in vertical direction reduces the vertical shrinkage. The shrinkage behavior of compacts of elliptical particles can be basically explained by considering the combination of the sintering stress and the size of inter-particle contact plane, except the case of arrangement with largely elongated pore structure.