Modelling sintering at different length scales

Recent developments in modelling the sintering process of powder compacts are critically reviewed. Both free sintering and pressure assisted sintering are considered. The review approaches the sintering models from the point of view of an end user of the models and sets out to: assess how useful and accurate the existing models are, discuss what is missing from the existing models, and suggest the way forward. This naturally leads to the challenges and opportunities in industrial practice and scientific research of the sintering process. The structure of the review is arranged around the length scales of the various models, i.e. the atomic scale, the particle/grain scale and the component/continuum scale. At each scale, a black box description of the models is given and then the details and the issues of the models are discussed. As a secondary aim, the various numerical techniques for computer simulation of sintering are also reviewed. The review is not intended to explain the numerical techniques in detail, but to guide the reader in the right direction and point to appropriate literature.