Abstract
Quantitative stereological measurement was done on the structural evolution in Fe-20wt%Cu powder compact during hydrogen sintering in the presence of a liquid phase. Many structural parameters pertaining to skeletal structure of solid particles, as well as to pore structure, were found to follow simple kinetics. The porosity, inner free surface and pore number decreased exponentially with sintering time. The mean particle intercept, particle number, and the size and number of interparticle welds followed simple power functions of sintering time. A geometrical similarity of the skeletal structure of solid particles remained throughout the sintering period. The kinetics of pore elimination was analysed using the stereological data of the residual pores. Hydrogen diffusion through liquid phase was considered to be the rate-determining step of the pore elimination.
