Development of Simulation Model for Normal Sintering of Al2O3 by Finite Element Method

A simulation model was developed to predict the shrinkage of ceramic compacts during sintering by finite element method. For different heating rates or compact sizes, the sintering shrinkage of compacts in the process of raising and holding temperature was calculated using the developed model and compared with the experimental data to examine the validity of the model. Results of simulation agreed well with the experimental phenomenon in which densification proceeds slowly for high rates of heating or large sizes of compacts. Thus, it became clear that the size change of a compact during sintering could be predicted for the unknown sintering conditions or compact size using this simulation model.