Computation of sintering stress and bulk viscosity from microtomographic images in viscous sintering of glass particles

Sintering stress and bulk viscosity were derived as functions of relative density from microtomographic images in viscous sintering of glass particles. Three methods were proposed to estimate the sintering stress from relative density, specific surface area, and average of curvature on pore surface, which were directly measured by X‐ray microtomography. The surface energy method gave valid value in the final stage of sintering, while the mixed method gave better estimation in the intermediate stage. For the initial stage of sintering, the sintering stress was calculated from the average contact radius and the average coordination number observed by X‐ray microtomography. The sintering stress at the final stage increased in free sintering, but it decreased in constrained sintering due to pore coarsening. The bulk viscosity was calculated from the shrinkage rate and the sintering stress.