sintering
Heat-fusing metal powder
Sintering is a manufacturing process that fuses powdered materials—typically metals or ceramics—into solid objects using heat and pressure below the melting point.
The particles bond at their surfaces, creating a dense mass without liquefying completely.
The technique produces components with precise shapes and controlled porosity: sintered metal filters, sintered brake pads.
Additive manufacturing often relies on laser sintering to build objects layer by layer from metal or plastic powder.
Reducing volume through pressure
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
- porosityVoid space density
- microstructureSubmillimeter material composition
- atomizationReduction to fine particles
Translucent fired clay
- kilnOven for hardening clay
- potteryFired clay objects
- earthenwareLow-temperature fired pottery
- stonewareDense ceramic fired hot
bisque · clay · firing · vitrification · shrinkage · cone · terracotta · refractory
Enclosed heat-producing structure
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- heat treatmentThermal processing of materials
- inert gasChemically unreactive element
Reducing volume through pressure
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- coalescenceUniting into one mass
- bondingForming close connections
Creating objects by depositing layers
- layer-by-layerIn successive strata
- post-processingModifying output after generation
- rapid prototypingQuick fabrication of preliminary models
compaction
Reducing volume through pressure
- densificationIncreasing mass per volume
- porosityVoid space density
- microstructureSubmillimeter material composition
porcelain
Translucent fired clay
- kilnOven for hardening clay
- potteryFired clay objects
- earthenwareLow-temperature fired pottery
stoneware · bisque · clay · firing · vitrification · shrinkage · cone · terracotta · refractory · alumina
furnace
Enclosed heat-producing structure
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- heat treatmentThermal processing of materials
compaction
Reducing volume through pressure
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- coalescenceUniting into one mass
3D printing
Creating objects by depositing layers
- layer-by-layerIn successive strata
- post-processingModifying output after generation
- rapid prototypingQuick fabrication of preliminary models
- thermal processesheating, burning, cooling, boiling, melting
- hardeninghardening, stiffening, solidification, solidifying, rigidifying
- laser usescutting, engraving, welding, etching, marking
- processesprocess, manufacturing, dissolving, fermentation, biological process
- 3D printing3D printer, 3D printers, filament, ABS, slicer
- glass sciencevitrification, non-crystalline, borosilicate, lead glass, lead crystal
sinteringmelting
Solid-to-liquid transition
casting · smelting · die casting · machining · milling
sinteringpulverizing
Breaking into particles
disintegration · powdering · grinding · decomposition · crumbling