STEREOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AT LATE STAGES OF SINTERING FOR NICKEL POWDER COMPACTS

The evolution of both the metric and topological properties of the microstructure for Ni pow- der compacts at the late stages of sintering(V_v~s>0.90)has been investigated by means of stereological method.The effects of precompaction pressure and loose sintering have been stu- died and discussed.