sinter
Compact without melting
Sinter is powdered material—typically metal or ceramic—that has been fused into a solid mass by heat and pressure without fully melting.
The process, sintering, is fundamental to powder metallurgy and ceramics manufacturing.
As a verb, to sinter is to form material this way: The tungsten powder was sintered at high temperature.
In geology, sinter refers to mineral deposits formed by precipitation from hot springs.
Of fiery mountain origin
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- geyserErupting thermal vent
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
- travertineLimestone from thermal springs
precipitate · fumarole · geothermal · crust · deposit · Yellowstone · concretion · tufa
Year-old compacting snow
- névéGranular, compacted alpine snow
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- snowpackAccumulated mountain winter layers
densification · recrystallization · alpine · polar · accumulation · metamorphism · cryosphere
Joining into unity
- bondingForming close connections
- coalescenceUniting into one mass
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
agglomeration · pelletizing · consolidation · solid-state · diffusion · necking · shrinkage · induration
Reducing volume through pressure
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
- binderDevice securing loose pages
- microstructureSubmillimeter material composition
shrinkage · consolidation · lubricant · feedstock · preform · compact
Oven for hardening clay
- firingTerminating employment
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- porcelainTranslucent fired clay
- stonewareDense ceramic fired hot
earthenware · bisque · densification · shrinkage · alumina · zirconia · refractory · furnace
Allowing substances through
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- porosityVoid space density
- foamBubble-filled substance
- meshInterlocking open weave
interconnected · capillary · diffusion · breathable · permeability · absorption · wicking · cellular
volcanic
Of fiery mountain origin
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- geyserErupting thermal vent
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
travertine · precipitate · fumarole · geothermal · crust · deposit · Yellowstone · concretion · tufa
firn
Year-old compacting snow
- névéGranular, compacted alpine snow
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
snowpack · densification · recrystallization · alpine · polar · accumulation · metamorphism · cryosphere
fusion
Joining into unity
- bondingForming close connections
- coalescenceUniting into one mass
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
compaction · agglomeration · pelletizing · consolidation · solid-state · diffusion · necking · shrinkage · induration
compaction
Reducing volume through pressure
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
- binderDevice securing loose pages
microstructure · shrinkage · consolidation · lubricant · feedstock · preform · compact
kiln
Oven for hardening clay
- firingTerminating employment
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- porcelainTranslucent fired clay
stoneware · earthenware · bisque · densification · shrinkage · alumina · zirconia · refractory · furnace
permeable
Allowing substances through
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
- porosityVoid space density
- foamBubble-filled substance
mesh · interconnected · capillary · diffusion · breathable · permeability · absorption · wicking · cellular · membrane
sinterpulverize
Crush to powder
disintegrate · powder · disaggregate · comminute · granulate