ABSTRACT
The engineering properties of ceramics are strongly dependent on the microstructure, the important features of which are the size and shape of the grains, the amount of porosity, the pore size, the distribution of the pores in the body, and the nature and distribution of any second phases. For most applications, microstructural control usually means the achievement of as high a density, as small a grain size, and as homogeneous a microstructure as possible. The microstructure of the fabricated article is influenced strongly by the microstructure of the green body, which in turn is dependent largely on the powder characteristics and the forming method [1]. However, even if proper procedures are employed in the production of the green body, which is rarely the case, significant manipulation of the microstructure is still necessary during the sintering step.
