Composites constrained sintering

Figure 11.13 Examples of constrained sintering (a) a composite in which inclusions prevent the powder matrix form sintering freely (b) an adherent thin film for which sintering in the plane of the film is inhibited by the substrate (c) a multilayer in which the layers sinter at different rates.

Reactive hot pressing of a mixture of powdCTS has been used successfully to produce composites (69,70). Densification is more readily achieved in this case when compared to the reaction sintering process described in Chapto 11, and this is due to the enhanced driving force for densification as well as the ability of the applied pressure to break down unfavorable microstructural features produced by the reaction, such as particle-particle bridges that constrain sintering. 

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