Abstract
As commonly known, parameters like powder type and size, sintering profile and atmosphere determine the sintering process. Thus, they define the properties of the sintered part, which has to match given requirements including manufacturing costs. In order to reduce experimental efforts in time-consuming process optimization, suitable and easy to handle simulation models are required in practice, which are still missing. In this study, a simulation model of 4 degrees of freedom, at present limited to spherical powder of one-component materials, is introduced. Despite the comparatively simple approach, it shows good agreement with experimental data. The analytical model is based on the known self-diffusion mechanisms, therefore, corresponding material parameters must be known. Among other details it is shown how these model parameters can be determined for a specific application with rather low practice-oriented efforts.
