ABSTRACT
The powder characteristics have a strong influence on the particle packing homogeneity of the green body and on the microstructural evolution during sintering. The important characteristics of a powder can be categorized into four groups: physical characteristics, chemical composition, phase composition, and surface characteristics. Powders consist of an assemblage of small units with certain distinct physical properties. Ceramic powders generally consist of particles of different sizes distributed over a certain range. The surface area of powders is important in its own right but can also be used to determine the average particle size when certain assumptions are made concerning the particle shape and the presence or absence of pores. Depending on the method used to synthesize them, many powders may consist of agglomerates of primary particles which are highly porous. The major, minor, and trace elements present in a powder can all have a significant influence on the subsequent processing and microstructural development.
