Ice sintering: Dependence of sintering force on temperature, load, duration, and particle size

We present experiments along with an approximate, semi-analytic, close-form solution to predict ice sintering force as a function of temperature, contact load, duration, and particle size during the primary stage sintering. The increases nearly linear increasing load but nonlinear both duration in form power law. exponent law for dependence is around value predicted by general theory. temperature also follows Arrhenius equation. At temperatures closer melting point, liquid bridge observed upon separation contacted particles. find that ratio ultimate tensile strength axial stress concentration factor tension important determining force, 1.1 MPa can best catch different conditions. activation energy 41.4KJ/mol, which close previously reported data. Also, our results suggest smaller particles are “stickier” than larger Moreover, formation particles, cavitation surface cracking be one sources variations measured force.