sintring

Sintring, commonly called sintering, is a process used to consolidate powdered materials into a solid, coherent body by diffusion at elevated temperature below the melting point. It is a central step in powder metallurgy and many ceramic manufacturing routes. The technology enables the production of complex shapes and tailored porosity with minimal machining.

The process typically begins with powder preparation and shaping: powders are compacted in a die to form a green body, often with binders. After shaping, debinding may be required to remove organics. Sintering occurs in a controlled atmosphere or vacuum to limit oxidation, while densification and neck formation reduce porosity.

During sintering, diffusion drives neck growth between particles and pore closure. Density increases toward the theoretical limit, though some porosity remains. Temperature, time, particle size, and material composition govern the microstructure. Variants include solid-state sintering (no melting), liquid-phase sintering (transient melt), and rapid methods such as spark plasma sintering.

Applications include metal and ceramic parts such as gears, bearings, cutting tools, dental crowns, catalyst supports, and porous filters. Advantages are near-net-shape parts, efficient material use, and tunable porosity; drawbacks include shrinkage, grain growth, oxidation risk, and the need for specialized equipment.