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Factors influencing particle agglomeration during solid-state sintering

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Abstract

Discrete element method (DEM) is used to study the factors affecting agglomeration in three-dimensional copper particle systems during solid-state sintering. A new parameter is proposed to characterize agglomeration. The effects of a series of factors are studied, including particle size, size distribution, inter-particle tangential viscosity, temperature, initial density and initial distribution of particles on agglomeration. We find that the systems with smaller particles, broader particle size distribution, smaller viscosity, higher sintering temperature and smaller initial density have stronger particle agglomeration and different distributions of particles induce different agglomerations. This study should be very useful for understanding the phenomenon of agglomeration and the micro-structural evolution during sintering and guiding sintering routes to avoid detrimental agglomeration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China

    Chao Wang & Shao-Hua Chen

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  1. Chao Wang
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  2. Shao-Hua Chen
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Correspondence to Shao-Hua Chen.

Additional information

The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10972220, 11125211 and 11021262) and 973 Project (2012CB937500).

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Wang, C., Chen, SH. Factors influencing particle agglomeration during solid-state sintering. Acta Mech Sin 28, 711–719 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10409-012-0029-3

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