Atomistic Simulations of Nanoparticle Sintering

Kim, S., Moitra, A., Kim, S., Park, S. J., & German, R. M. (2009). Atomistic Simulations of Nanoparticle Sintering. Orlando, FL, USA.

Atomistic simulations are used to probe the sintering process of nanoscale tungsten particles. The primary objective of this study is to understand the fundamental characteristics of atomic movement during sintering and how various additives influence the sintering process. I will present the result on densification and grain growth during sintering as a function of the crystalline misalignment between particles. Pressure assisted sintering is a well-known method to enhance densification by increasing the contact pressure of particles and thus the driving force for sintering, compared to pressureless solid state sintering. The effect of pressure is even more important for sintering of nano scale particles. I will compare the results of simulations with and without pressure during sintering. The presentation will focus on particle deformation before sintering, material softening at elevated temperatures, temperature and pressure sensitivities, and particle size effect. These findings can provide a foundation for a new virtual approach to nanoscale processing and material design.