Neck formation between copper spherical particles under single-mode and multimode microwave sintering

This paper presents results of an investigation concerning neck formation during microwave sintering of copper powder. Porous copper samples were treated in single-mode and multimode microwave furnaces in order to investigate neck formation process. Samples were heated to temperatures as high as 0.8T(mp) in 2.45 GHz microwave field. Evidence of pure microwave effect on initial stage of sintering was found on fracture surface of sintered samples, as development of micro-plasma discharges in porous material seem to enhance sintering process. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.