Sintering, Creep, and Electrical Conductivity of Model Glass-Matrix Composites

The sintering, creep, and electrical conductivity of model glass-matrix composites were investigated as functions of inclusion content and size. The composites consisted of spherical soda–lime glass particles and spherical nickel inclusions. At inclusion volume fractions below 10 vol% there was no inclusion size effect on the creep viscosity. Above 10 vol% there was an inclusion size effect, with the viscosity increasing significantly with decreasing inclusion size. The increase in electrical conductivity commenced at lower inclusion volume fractions as the inclusion size decreased. The data indicate that interactions between the inclusions might be responsible for the observed inclusion size effect. The sintering rates of the composites were compared with the predictions of Scherer's self-consistent model. Good agreement was obtained when the measured creep viscosity was used in the model equations.