Diffusion Sintering: II, Initial Sintering Kinetics of Alumina

The initial sintering kinetics of alumina have been studied by measuring the isothermal shrinkage of compacts of several alumina powders in air. The shrinkage of these compacts can best be described by a grain-boundary vacancy diffusion model for the temperature range 1200° to 1600°C. The behavior of the compacts is consistent with the model after an initial shrinkage has occurred. The magnitude of this initial shrinkage is constant for identical specimens and is independent of the sintering temperature.