New publication charts history of sintering and identifies key players in understanding the science
June 21, 2017
A new publication from Professor Randall M German, entitled ‘Sintering Science: A Historical Perspective’, is now available in both print and digital formats.
This monograph is an overview on how sintering science evolved, identifying the key actors and the progress that leveraged from advances in atomic theory, materials testing and microstructure quantification. It documents who did what, and when critical pieces of the puzzle fell in place.
Sintering is an ancient process, used thousands of years ago for the fabrication of bricks, pottery, crucibles, and precious metal jewellery. In modern times, humans apply sintering to the production of precise engineering components, such as automotive transmission gears and artificial knees. Indeed, sintered structures are found in most every aspect of modern life, including cellular telephones, jet engines, and laptop computers.
The scientific understanding of sintering is a relatively recent development. Quantitative ideas on particle bonding emerged between 1945 and 1955. Those ideas continue to be refined, now largely in the form of advanced computer simulations.
This historical platform provides a base for looking into the future where research on nanoscale particles and Additive Manufacturing are employing new sintering concepts.
‘Sintering Science: A Historical Perspective’ is available from the MPIF in either print or PDF format.
